:: Romney has at least been campaigning largely as a conservative ::
“Campaign to the base in a primary, move to a centrist campaign in the general.”
I think you are setting yourself up on this one, Brother.
I am well aware of that tendency in both parties.
As I have said before, I do not trust Romney. But I still may end up voting for him. Between now and November, I want to see if he continues to campaign as a conservative or if he reverses course. I will be looking especially at three issues and one decision: abortion; same-sex marriage; Obamacare; and VP choice.
During the primary campaign, Romney has said, more than once, that he is opposed to Roe v. Wade and that he would appoint SC justices like Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas. Romney has said, more than once, that he is opposed to same-sex marriage. Romney has said, more than once, that he is opposed to Obamacare. What remains to be seen is if he will continue to hold these positions during the general election campaign. Likewise with the VP choice. And even if he does continue to run as a conservative, we still don't know if he will govern as one.
But I do know that there is a heckuva better chance that Romney will govern more conservatively as President of the United States, with a relatively conservative Congress, than he did as Governor of the Communistwealth of Massachusetts, with an 85% hard-lib legislature. And it is sbsolutely certain that he will govern more conservatively than Chairman Obamao.
My "line in the sand" on voting for President, VP, Governor, Senator, or Representative has always been on the issue of abortion. I will not vote for anyone who is avowedly pro-abort (e.g., Giuliani). So if Romney were now to come out in favor of abortion, or pick a VP who is pro-abort, then I would be faced with a crisis of conscience. I cannot stomach the thought of Obama getting re-elected, but at the same time I cannot pull the lever for a pro-abort ticket.
But for right now at least, Romney is running as opposed to abortion (and same-sex marriage and Obamacare). If he continues to do so into November, then I will vote for him.
I wish there was a candidate I could have full confidence in, who also has a realistic chance of beating Obama, but there isn't. Right now the best option to me seems to be: elect Romney; elect as many conservatives as possible to the Congress; try to make Romney govern as conservatively as we can; and hope for the best. Obama is not an option.