I don't see a public outcry against Obama compared to say George W. Bush's socialism lite. So I don't buy your premise. I think they hated Bush more. I won't vote for either Obama or Romney but there are degrees of bad and I would never willingly vote for a stronger socialist.
Conservatives screwed up and split the vote between Santorum and Gingrich. Conservatives will just need to regroup and get their act together for 2016 because 2012 is gone.
Oh boy I am gonna need the flame suit. The Social and Economic conservatives got split. Reagan was both. Same dang thing Huckabee screwed Thompson maybe even more than his lack of energy. For better or worse faith based Conservatives are voting for the man or woman that is more faith centric. This is the 2nd time it has been nothing but a spoiler from a macro view.