You know, I've got to disagree with you. I think that the "R" is the big difference between Romney and Obamba, especially when you consider the sheer size of the bureaucracy of the FedGov and all the power that the "administrator caste" has AND that Republicans (on the whole) have been full-of-shit with regards to reducing the size & scope of government.
So our choices will (likely) be:
1. Vote for Obama (never)
2. Vote for Mittens (distasteful, but better than #1)
3. Vote for 3rd party candidate (which leads to Obama being elected, so it is equal to #1)
4. Don't vote (Obama gets elected, back to same as #1)
I, too would have liked to have seen a real solid conservative win the nomination. It didn't (won't) happen this time around. So we either get 4 more years of Obummer, or 4 (or 8) years of Obummer-lite. There is no viable third choice. Teach the Republicans a lesson - yeah, they really learned with Dole and McCain...