Conservative Obama, Radical Romney

Gary Gutting, a Notre Dame philosophy professor, has a nice article at the New York Times that rehashes a familiar debate from on this blog.  He argues that Obama represents the post-New Deal mainstream, whereas Romney represents a fundamental change for smaller government.  I’m not convinced of the factual basis of that claim, but his conclusion bears repeating:

Thinking in terms of the above framework reverses the standard polarity of the two parties. Those who are conservative in the traditional sense of resisting abrupt major changes in established institutions should vote for Obama. Those who support a fundamental change should vote for Romney.  Oddly enough, Obama’s hopes for a second term may turn on the support of conservative voters.