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GOP gubernatorial Mike Minogue is trying to keep his chin up as polls show him losing big to Maura Healey, as MassLive reports (“Republican Minogue confident heading into home stretch: ‘Lies, damn lies and polling’”), and as the Globe’s Adrian Walker, the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld and others get an early start on performing political autopsies on his campaign. But am I the only one who thinks Minogue has performed just well enough (at least for a political rookie) to establish himself as a potential contender for elected office down the road? That he might do better the second time around, sort of like former Republican Govs. Mitt Romney and Charlie Baker, both of whom lost before they won? … Two obstacles to Minogue  prevailing in the future: his pro-life stand on abortion (Mitt deftly flip-flopped on the issue while Baker was pro-choice) and Question 3 if it passes (no more GOP primary coronations). … Above, C-Span video of the Romney-Kennedy U.S. Senate debate in ’94, during Mitt’s first go at statewide office.