Why is the Republican "Frontrunner" a Moderate?

According to recent polls, the Republican frontrunner (by a hair) is a Massachusetts moderate. In an election where everything we have believed in as Americans is on the line, how in the world did a MODERATE become the frontrunner, if only by an inch?

The conservative vote is being split between Perry, Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul. Romney has rarely seen the light of day above a 25% approval rating from Republicans. That means that more than 75% of Republicans do not want to vote for him. He is a Massachusetts moderate. He has flip-flopped on virtually every topic sacred to conservatives. [Funding for abortion is in RomneyCare.] What Gingrich said earlier today is true: unless we want a repeat of 2008, when the moderate McCain slid past all the conservatives running and became the Republican candidate for president, someone (or two) needs to get out of the race now to ensure that a conservative wins in South Carolina. He called for Perry and Santorum to step down so Gingrich could win. As the second-placer in recent polls, that is a good call. Otherwise, Romney slides past all the conservatives running and becomes the Republican candidate. And I'm not sure he is electable, because too many people have said they would never vote for him. Personally, I would rather it was Perry making the call for others to step down, but Gingrich would be my second choice.

It's a given that any of the Republican candidates would be infinitely better than Obama. But it would take someone with incredible resolve to see to it that a conservative gets elected to actually step down in favor of a rival. It would take guts. It would take humility. It would take a man of vision. Basically, it would take a miracle. Tebowing, anyone?