Republicans are down in the dumps, according to the Wall Street Journal. One candidate after another has disappointed: Romney is good looking but stupid and part of a wacko religion, McCain isn’t tough enough on immigration, Thompson is too tired from trying to keep up with his second family to campaign, Guiliani’s personal life is a mess and he’s pro-choice, Huckabee is too born-again, and the others are just obscure. No wonder they’re bummed.

At its simplest, there is a political energy gap. Democrats appear to be more fired up about their party nominating contest than are Republicans. Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire have been turning out at rallies in greater numbers than Republicans and giving more money to candidates. In Iowa, polls indicate Democrats will be attending the Thursday night caucuses in record numbers.

“There seems to be a little more juice on the Democratic side,” says Republican pollster Bill McInturff.

Yeah, baby!

Except in Florida, of course, where the Democrats’ 48-state strategy (excluding Florida and Michigan from campaigning because our primary dates were changed) is taking a toll.

The Democratic candidates have been all but invisible in the state unless they were asking Floridians to open up their checkbooks. Meanwhile, the Republicans have been hitting the state hard. How lasting the damage will be will be dictated by how quickly the Democrats can heal their differences after the early primaries.

I recently forgave John Edwards for taking the no-Florida pledge because I am seeing how important it is to get the right person in that office next time. If I can move on, surely my fellow Florida Dems can too. Especially with such a weak array of Republicans to choose from.