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welcome back to "hardball." the ever-changing roller coaster republican front-runners has shown us one thing for sure, the gop is not happy with their field so far.m in iowa, republican caucus-goers are looking for four key ingredients, and trying to determine if the candidates stack up. i put together a checklist to see where they stand. look, let's take a look at the four candidates atop the field right now, paul, romney, santorum and gingrich. when it comes to being a truly solid small government conservative, paul and santorum fit that bill nicely.ç romney and gingrich's support of health care and talking about climate change hurt them. in terms of being part of the religious right, it's only rick santorum. he's the only real true blue religious right candidate running. republicans looking for a hawk see three potentials now, romney, santorum and gingrich. ron paul, you've got to say that about him, is definitely not a hawk, but if you want someone who could actually win the general election against barack obama the only one that fits that bill is clearly mitt romney.