Gail Collins: David, are you reconciled to the fact that Mitt Romney is going to be the Republican presidential nominee?

David Brooks: Oh, I went through that phase a few weeks ago after the debate at the Reagan library. That’s the night I noticed Romney was the best candidate in the field. Since then I’ve noticed that he has given three debate performances that are better than any Barack Obama has given in his life. (Obama’s a better speechmaker, but Romney’s a better debater.) So now I’m settling into the idea that Romney might well be president. This will be interesting because he has a tendency to hire people who look vaguely like him, so I’m picturing a White House filled with tall, well-groomed brunettes…

I spend a lot of time looking at whom the candidates are choosing as their advisers. Romney clearly has the best group. He’s harvested some of the best brains in the G.O.P. He released an economic plan the other week that was a pretty serious document, at least by the standards of politics these days.