We now have the first race of 2012 under our belts. It was simultaneously exciting and boring. Exciting because it was a three-way race for much of the night, then it was a two-way race between the Dominant Guy and the Dark Horse, and then it was the Dominant Guy by a mere 8 votes. Boring because we conservatives are still saying, “Are we really going to go into this war with Barack Obama for the future of the country…with this group?” Sigh.

Well, sometimes you have to go to war with the troops you’ve got. While it’s possible that someone else could jump in the race, it’s not likely. So, here we go again, sucking up our frustration and having to make a decision about whom we want carrying the banner into the final battle in November.

Dominant Guy—Mitt Romney—remains dominant. His campaign is a machine of organization, fundraising and cash on hand. He’s disciplined and so is his team. He rarely if ever steps off message, is late for an event or interview or makes a misstep. This is a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because this is exactly the kind of tight ship campaign we’re going to need to go up against Obama. It’s a curse because he looks almost robotic out there. But in the end, I’ll take disciplined any day.

The Dark Horse—Rick Santorum—came so close to Romney to place second not because he ran an ingenious campaign but because he was the last in line to grab a look from conservatives. Don’t get me wrong: Santorum is a genuine conservative and a good man. But he surged only after everybody else did and was the last man standing. He’s got some money rolling in now, but he doesn’t have much organization anywhere else and not a lot of dough in general. We’ll see how far his phenomenal Iowa finish takes him. Maybe through South Carolina. Maybe beyond.

Outlier Guy—Ron Paul—finished third, despite great organization and rabid fans. He finished strong, though not as strongly as some might have expected. He’s right about spending, the debt and the Fed but woefully wrong about American superpower and our role in the world. That’s hurt him big time. The United States cannot move into the 21st century with a commander-in-chief who doesn’t believe in American power and influence.

I really feel for Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry—two strong conservatives—whose roads to the GOP nomination ended last night. They both had powerful messages of limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets. They deserved close attention, and they got it—although they didn’t always stand up well under the glare. Bachmann struggled to break through and Perry had some unfortunate debate moments. It occurred to most GOP voters that we really couldn’t send either one into a general election against Barack Obama.

The November election is as serious national business as we will ever have. Despite our discontent, we’ve got to match the seriousness of the moment with our own seriousness. The future of the country depends on it.

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