TAMPA, Fla. – As Republicans gather here this week to steel for their hopeful bid to make Mitt Romney the 45th president of the United States, some skeptical conservatives are beginning to size up who — Jeb Bush, Rep. Paul Ryan or Gov. Chris Christie — should be the GOP standard bearer in 2016 if President Obama beats Romney.

“We have a very deep bench of new-generation leaders if Romney loses,” said a key conservative leader. “One thing is for sure. I doubt anybody will question the conservative credentials of our next candidate” as many conservatives have Romney, he added.