You are dreaming, you are in fantasy-land, if you think Romney's performance in the debate swayed the typical American-voter-who-gives-a-damn. Have I forgotten? Why would a person interested in a politician dedicated to reducing government, care about how a government pushing functional Democrat performs in a debate? Very few American voters watch the debates. All they want is to vote for a politician who represents their general political philosophy, and in 2012, both the R and the D had virtually the same philosophy. A large number of Americans PERCEIVED that, so they stayed home. That, with the long-imbedded systemic vote ginning/fraud/manipulative tactics of the left, ensured the MINORITY leftist wins.
You fear something that is a wimp. The "dependent class" don't give a damn enough to vote, most of them!
Anyway, YOU can vote for Republicans who grow government if you want. When you get what you voted for -- Republicans pushing nationalized health care, the environmentalist agenda, gay marriage, etc. -- remember to take responsibility for it.
You're responsible for what you vote for.
The candidate who will shrink the most is actually not at top of my list. That would be Senator Rand Paul. But I am going with a the man who has a PROVEN RECORD of cutting spending, reducing taxes and INCREASING PRIVATE sector jobs. That would be governor Walker. He knows how to work with the legislature. he has been doing it for 4 years. Senator Cruz has a very good agenda. He is an excellent debater. He is very intelligent, far more than GWB, Bush41 or Reagan, the last 3 republicans. Only reason he is 2nd on my preference list is he has not proven 2 things to me. First, does he have ability to work with congress. So far that record is not encouraging. And second, can he connect with voters and get more votes than Governor Walker in the first 6 primaries in IA, NH, CO, UT, NV & SC. If he beats out the Governor in those 6 primaries, he will move to top of my preference list.
As to what caused Romney to lose, I have not talked to all the voters who actually voted for Obama, so I will know the exact reason. And neither will you. We can only conjecture.