A Brokered Republican National Convention? Politicians, Pundits Differ On Prospects (PHOTOS)

The protracted GOP primary season -- and its long-running narrative of Mitt Romney leading in delegates but unable to win the full support of the party -- has led to widespread speculation about the possibility of a contested or brokered Republican national convention, with delegates and party leaders battling it out to choose a presidential candidate in August.

But how likely that is to happen, and whether it would be a good thing, is shaping up to a be a hot intra-party debate. Romney said a brokered convention would be "a gift to Barack Obama," while former RNC chair Michael Steele said "I wanted a brokered convention."

Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich have all predicted they could force the race to the convention and win, while Karl Rove said "The odds are greater that there's life on Pluto than that the GOP has a brokered convention."

Still others, including Sarah Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) think an as-yet undeclared candidate might have a shot.

"Anything is possible," Palin said.

Here's a look at some conservatives (and a Muppet) who've laid out opinions on a brokered convention: