Governor Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucus, something few pundits predicted in the many months of pontificating leading up to what is the official kickoff of the Republican presidential race. Until just before Christmas, when polls began shifting in Romney’s favor following Newt Gingrich’s - who finished 4th - rise and fall, most people thought Romney would have an OK showing and then try to win big in New Hampshire.

For the first time in the Republican race, we’re on the edge of the first Mitt-surge. Throughout the campaign, he’s the only candidate steady in the polls with the organization and financing to run a nationwide campaign for the nomination. Tonight, while anything can happen in politics, Mitt Romney is one step closer to making this a short campaign. Yes, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum almost pulled off an upset; he doesn’t have a long-term victory strategy.

This is a new kind of primary for Republicans, done are the days of winner-take-all primaries. A candidate who finishes in the top tier in every state keeps adding delegates. Romney benefits most from this new primary system, the same Democrats use, but with his victory in Iowa, this campaign may not be as long as President Obama hoped.

Social conservatives, it’s time to stand with Mitt Romney. Instead of a long, and likely brutal primary campaign, uniting behind a candidate early will give the Republican candidate a long time to take the fight directly to President Obama.

As someone who worked for Mitt Romney in 2008, including a decent chunk of time in Iowa, let me tell you a little bit about the Governor Romney I know.

First, Romney is a candidate with unquestionable morals-- a man dedicated to his wife, children, grandchildren, and country. Second, Romney is a man of faith who understands the importance of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and respect of religious freedom. Third, Romney is strongly pro-life -- yes, he’s a convert but I’m pretty sure converting folks like Romney to the cause has been a longtime goal of the life movement.

Fourth, if people like my dad - who has spent most of his career before the Supreme Court - are comfortable, even enthusiastic, with a President Romney appointing federal judges and Supreme Court justices, I don’t think you - as a social conservative - have any cause for concern. Fifth, Romney has been unwavering in his pledge to -- if necessary depending on the Supreme Court -- gut ObamaCare from day one of his presidency. Sixth, when it comes to foreign policy, the governor will be a strong supporter of Israel, fully appreciates and is ready to handle the threat of a nuclear Iran, and knows that we have to address China directly when it comes to the economy.

Finally, Romney is a great leader, the kind of boss you want to work for, a man you can trust to get America’s economy back on track.

Look at how he conducts himself personally, look at his record and his promises, but know that Mitt Romney also welcomes social conservatives to hold him to those promises and be accountable.