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"As Popeye used to say, 'I am what I am,'" Romney sighed. "I'm as clear as I can be to people as to what my views areO. When I ran for office I indicated I did not favor same-sex marriage or civil unions and I have simply stood by that positionO. At the same time, I've indicated I'm a person who will follow the law. I respect the process of the law and if the legal processes result in a conclusion I disagree with, I will nonetheless follow the law. I swore to do that when I became governor. A lot of what is passed by the legislature is not as I would pass it, but I will implement it and enforce it."

It's an explanation that doesn't cut it with Haskins. "When [Romney] claims, as he has repeatedly, that he is going to follow the law, agree or disagree, he is either lying or he is so ignorant of the law and the state constitution that he should be impeached for negligence," he said, adding that until the legislature passes a law granting same-sex couples the right to marry, Romney is not bound to enforce those marriages. By Haskins' lights, Romney has more of a responsibility to defy than anything else.

IN FAIRNESS, several nationally prominent social conservatives have been more impressed with Romney's performance vis-a-vis the marriage debate than hometown discontents. Frequent National Review Online contributor and president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy Maggie Gallagher called Romney "a very brave man, indeed," for his stand. Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby -- never one to shy away from whacking Romney from the right -- wrote, "Few mainstream politicians have stepped up to make a principled case in support of that timeless definition [of marriage], and so far none has done so as cogently as Romney."

Upset as they are, other social conservatives like Camenker reluctantly admit that there were worse fates than a corner office occupied by Mitt Romney.

"If Romney hadn't come along, Massachusetts would probably be like Havana right now," he said. "I don't despise the guy. He isn't the devil to me or anything. I just wish he'd done things differently. If I had the 2002 election to do over again, I'd still pull the lever for him unless some sterling Republican miraculously appeared."

And so what does Barbara Anderson, who begged Romney to "save the Commonwealth," think of his decision to move on after a single term?

"Well, it's nice having him as governor, but, to me, it's important to look at the big picture," she said. "It's important to have a good president, too, and someone in the White House doing a good job for the country is doing a good job for Massachusetts. I can't imagine why anyone would put themselves through all that, but if he decides to, he'll have my support."

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