A Permanent Shift in Conservative Support?

With Tuesday’s Primaries just around the corner, it seems conservative voters are marching to a different beat.

If there was a theme song for the first half of the Republican nomination race, it would have easily been the Spice Girls 1996 hit “Wannabe”.

Voters were allowing outside forces to tell them who they really wanted.

Conservative leaders found themselves banding around presumed winner Mitt Romney. Romney was dubbed the only viable challenger to the Obama administration, but its seems the tide is turning in Santorum’s favor.

Bachman was disregarded. Cain brought about his own demise. Perry never recovered after nose diving in polls.

Santorum was thought to be too radical. Gingrich was portrayed as having too many skeletons in the closet. Paul was too...Paul.

Santorum was expected to fall out, along with Gingrich and Paul.

Why haven’t they?

Simple.

Romney’s inability to sway conservatives has been his Achilles heel.

From his Mormon faith, wealthy background and stoic nature, Romney seems like an individual far from the average republican voter.

Despite initial concerns, conservatives went along. Romney led virtually every poll in the nation. Despite slips in Iowa and South Carolina, Romney appeared to remain the one to beat.

Like the Spice Girls hit, conservatives were attuned to the mantra, which came to define the nomination race.

Though they knew who they really wanted—an unyielding conservative who and stands for their ideals despite social pressures—conservatives allowed themselves to be swayed by party leaders and political experts who told them they knew who they really wanted.

Even though Romney reflects little of what they desire, they continued to allow themselves to be told he was what they needed. With Romney continuing to grow unpopular, Michigan and Arizona voters are voicing their concerns.

It appears the tide is beginning to change and shift in Santorum’s favor.

Santorum won Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. Now, campaigning in Michigan, Romney’s home state, Santorum looks to pull a great upset.

Santorum has come to symbolize a realization that Romney fails to truly represent conservative ideals. His moderate background fails to identify with voters who are tired of what they see as a country heading towards socialism.

In addition to Romney's moderate views, his wealth seems to be another nail in his coffin. In a time of a battle against the one percent, Romney sits as the odd man out.

Conservative voters are telling us who they want, but how long with their flirtation with Santorum last?