In interviews over the past several days, key anti-establishment party activists say they are reevaluating the Republican field now that Christie and Palin have said they aren’t running, and will watch closely in the next three months to see who emerges to take on Romney, who they acknowledge is now the front-runner for the Republican nomination.

“There’s no Christie, there’s no Palin, there’s no speculation,” said Ryan Rhodes, head of the Iowa Tea Party. “So everything starts over.”…

Some anti-Romney Republicans are beginning to acknowledge that their votes could be divided, leading to a Romney victory.

“If Romney wins, it would show the weakness of us as a movement,” said Deace of conservatives.