In 2008 John McCain was a "hold your nose" Republican candidate. Conservatives voted for him, but without joy, and many stayed home. Squishy Republicans flipped to Obama to catch the wave of "the first black President." Democrats, and especially liberal Democrats, and more especially African-Americans, would have crawled over broken glass to vote for Obama.
In 2012 the scenario is flipped 180 degrees. Now it is the Democrats who have to hold their noses to vote for Obama. His record on the economy -- high unemployment, slow growth, high deficits, the promise of higher taxes and more regulation -- is dismal and everyone knows it. No thinking Democrat is excited about four more years. But Republicans, and especially conservatives, will crawl over broken glass to vote against Obama and, increasingly, vote for Mitt Romney, a man who has proved himself equal to the moment in discipline, grace under pressure, and ability to govern.
That difference will translate into millions of 2008 Obama voters either staying home or voting for Romney. And it will translate into millions of conservatives who sat out 2008, particularly evangelicals, rushing the polls this morning, lining up all day, and then waiting deep into the night to celebrate victory.
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