A recent Gallup Poll shows that conservatives remain the largest ideological group in the U.S. 40% of Americans describe themselves as conservative, while 35% describe themselves as moderate, and 21% as liberal. With those describing themselves as conservatives outnumbering those who describe themselves as liberals by almost two to one, you would think that this poll would be reassuring to Republicans. Yet if we examine the findings a little closer we find that the front-runner of the GOP field is not the sort of conservative most Republicans identify with.

Of polled Republicans, 20% identified themselves as “Very conservative,” 51% as “Conservative,” and 23% as “Moderate.” Amongst independents, 36% identified themselves as “Very conservative” or “Conservative.” A few years ago, findings like these would have been very welcome to the GOP. Conservatism is the dominant political ideology, the incumbent liberal President’s popularity has not topped 47% in the last six months, and the economy is struggling. It sounds like a great recipe for conservative success. Yet somehow conservatives have ended up with a moderate as the front runner.

It is no secret that many Republicans are disappointed with Romney as front runner. Conservative voters in 2012 seem to be sacrificing conservative principles for electability in order to beat Obama, a confusing ranking of priorities considering the similarities between Romney and the President. If we assume that Romney does win the nomination, he is too moderate for some very important parts of the Republican party, such as libertarians and the evangelical right, and will struggle in a general election contest. In order to appeal to those who describe themselves as “Very conservative” or even those who describe themselves as “Conservative,” Romney will need to begin appealing to those more likely to vote for the likes of Santorum or Paul. But it is too late for that.