Possibly it’s a false dichotomy, but it’s quite likely it’s not.
The “only” grassroots conservative I can see who would have a fighting chance is Sarah Palin. The presidency is in her hand, if she wants it. She has said she does not, for whatever reason. “Alternates” like the loon Ron Paul will do nothing but ensure that the US is a goner.
Now, feel free to debate how “conservative or not” Romney really is. I saw, recently, someone pointing out that part of Romney’s record as a moderate was something he couldn’t do much about: he kept vetoing liberal bills, and his own administration kept overturning his vetoes. And that his efforts although unsuccessful speaks quite loudly on what is in the package. I think the whole thing was here, and in other comments by Jeff.
http://www.jeffhead.com/Romney2012.htm
Your ballot will have more than two choices, even if it has a write-in line. So, yes, it is false.
Most of the ABOs I have asked make no attempt to answer my question. Deep down they know that a Romney victory, which grants control of the party apparatus to the incumbent, will do absolutely nothing to advance conservatism, and will as likely retard it by cementing control of the Republican Party in the hands of those moderates and liberals who helped create the mess we're in.
I've talked extensively with Jeff Head and I consider him a friend. However, we have agreed to disagree about Romney and we have a gentleman's bet on how he'll govern if elected. Others have posted Romney's record on this site and I won't waste Jim's bandwidth by doing it again because it's readily available. Some of it can be spun and explained away but some of it, specifically his writing the forerunner to Obamacare, Romneycare's abortion availability and his simply pathetic record on family issues including his unfortunate status as the father of gay 'marriage', cannot.
You might be able to vote for that. I can't. I'm sorry, but I won't help give control of the party I've belonged to for my entire adult life to a self-described progressive like Mitt Romney. America needs better and if conservatives would simply band together, they could have better.