“Send Obama Back to Chicago!”

Making Obama a one-term president was the top priority for Republicans at a convention of party activists. The prospective Republican candidates are fighting for the soul of the party.

Situated on a rise in Washington, D.C., the Wardman-Marriot Hotel is reminiscent of a fortress – or, alternatively, of Ronald Reagan’s “Shining City on a Hill.” It’s the venue for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference and destination for politicians and proponents from every conceivable Republican corner, from obscure members of the tea party movement to the intellectual think tanks and, of course, for those seeking the party’s nomination for president.

One conservative figurehead wears a Reagan mask while in the lobby Rick Santorum fans are handing out blue stickers. Whether Reagan would be a majority choice among today’s Republicans is a question that is considered a sacrilege by the activists.

They’re preparing a hero’s welcome for their new hero and his seven member family. Rick Santorum is fighting for the heart and soul of his party and is on the attack against Mitt Romney. He creates an image of Obama’s America as the wrong path and juxtaposes his conservative vision. The more strident and shrill his attacks against Obama, the greater the ovation from the crowd.

Obama has been in the White House for more than 1,000 days – or “Occupy D.C.” as Tony Perkins calls it. Their demand is, “We want our country back,” from everyone from Marco Rubio to ex-candidates Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain. Perry picks up on the football metaphor from Clint Eastwood’s television spot: “I’m fearful of what the final score’s going to be if we let this president start the second half as the quarterback.” Herman Cain suggests nominating Joe the Plumber, who is currently running for a congressional seat in Ohio. Joe gained national notoriety in 2008 for publicly confronting Obama.

Romney in the Role of Mr. Spock

“Send Obama back to Chicago.” Based on that motto, John Boehner depicted an America without Obama in 2014. But who can replace him is more important than ever in the wake of Rick Santorum’s primary victories: Pragmatic businessman Mitt Romney? Big-talking “moon president” Newt Gingrich? Down-to-earth conservative Rick Santorum? Radical libertarian Ron Paul, the only one of the candidates to have already left for Maine? Or maybe there will be a surprise candidate the Republican establishment will pull out of a hat and send into the fray at the last minute during the Republican convention in Tampa? Famous political blogger Erick Erickson has bad news for anyone thinking that: The Republicans will lose.

As Santorum raked in campaign donations for the first time in grand style, Romney was looking for advice from party notables. He tried his best to convince his critics and to emphasize his conservative roots. It was here that he announced the end of his presidential ambitions in 2008 and it’s here that he now attempts a comeback. Ex-candidate Rick Perry said, “We do the people no great service if we replace the current administration with a luke warm version of the same thing.” And publicist Jonah Goldberg said Mitt Romney reminded him of a cult figure from the Starship Enterprise: “He’s like Spock reading a love letter — he says the right things but has trouble showing emotion.”