"Rather than focus on some grandiose symbolism, start on the ground--where the 6-foot human interacts with the space around him, " suggests John (Jack) Portman III, chief executive of John Portman Associates, an Atlanta architecture and development firm.

FORBES: They Will Rise Again

It also more experienced politicians, John Kasich and Rob Portman of Ohio, Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, Jeb Bush of Florida, who see an opportunity to lead the party back to power.

CNN: Commentary: 5 reasons GOP will rebound

When we consider that it was just two years ago that Ohio elected a very conservative governor in John Kasich and sent conservative Rob Portman to the Senate, is there not reason to question whether the modeling employed by the pollsters may not be properly representing the electoral changes the state has seen since 2008?

FORBES: Is This The Year The Polls Get It Wrong?

Portman called fellow Ohioan and House Speaker John Boehner to inform him of his revised position according to a Boehner spokesman.

CNN: Portman reversal highlights GOP generational split

Although Mr Portman is a clear asset, much depends, too, on who replaces John Snow at the Treasury.

ECONOMIST: The president's economic team