Set yourself up, in other words, for 2012 (if Republicans lose this year) or later (if Republicans win this year). You'll turn 69 in 2016. As McCain and Reagan both have proved, age is not necessarily a barrier if you're still healthy and vigorous.

Meanwhile, with your money and the political action committee you will form and fund, you can offer generic "we must win this war" ads in markets where you might make a real difference.

The ads would be nonpartisan and need not mention any candidate in particular. But this is the single most powerful issue the Republican Party has, and by also appearing personally on the same platform with Republican candidates

and delivering that win-the-war, keep-America-safe message everywhere, you will be pushing the issue likeliest to lead to Republican victory. Because inside the Democratic Party right now, being anti-war is the only way to be nominated.

But in the nation at large, being in favor of an unnecessary and stupid surrender to our enemies will not play, and a pro-victory campaign will probably lead to a Republican landslide.

The polls that show America being against the war are the result of our being pounded for years by anti-Bush news media.

But Americans don't like to lose wars. Ever.

Mitt Romney, your campaign is just beginning. Even if McCain treats you badly — no, especially if McCain treats you badly — a highly visible Romney effort in support of Republican candidates will overcome most of the anti-Mormon bias that killed your chances for the presidency this year.

Make yourself Mr. Republican, Mitt Romney. Because that's something that McCain, Rudy Giuliani or Huckabee cannot ever plausibly do.

Spread your tent and show your loyalty to all Republicans, not just the doctrinaire far right.

It will be good for your political ambitions. It will be good for the LDS Church and later Mormon politicians who follow you.

Above all, it will be good for America.

Editor's note: The views expressed by all Deseret Morning News columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper's owner.

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Orson Scott Card is a writer of nonfiction and fiction, from LDS works to popular fiction. "In the Village" appears weekly in the Deseret Morning News. Leave feedback for Card online at www.nauvoo.com/contact_desnews.html.