It’s very simple really, no need to calculate how many votes RG will receive from social Conservatives and Libertarians.
As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen Conservatives or Libertarians put up any candidates since RR. A few in the House and Senate, a few in each State House and Governorships, but not enough.
Obviously, we have very little influential media, since the liberal MSM has been in charge for 40 years. And we have recruited, funded, and elected very few candidates to our liking.
Not to mention the very little influence we have in culture and education.
We have an aversion to activism, and it shows.
If you're voting your own issues, I agree. If one is voting in the primaries based on electability, one does need to calculate how many votes RG will gain/lose from social and libertarian conservatives (and figure out where he will get the votes to make up for the loss of some in both GOP constituencies).
As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen Conservatives or Libertarians put up any candidates since RR. A few in the House and Senate, a few in each State House and Governorships, but not enough.
It doesn't have to be a candidate specifically put forth by social or libertarian conservatives -- it merely has to be one both can support. W. is an example of someone both groups could somewhat support, even with misgivings. I don't believe Giuliani is.
Obviously, we have very little influential media, since the liberal MSM has been in charge for 40 years. And we have recruited, funded, and elected very few candidates to our liking. Not to mention the very little influence we have in culture and education. We have an aversion to activism, and it shows.
That may be true. However, we do have more influence media-wise now than in any time since the 50s -- because at the very least we have alternative media (not to mention Fox, although that only helps us if we want to promote ourselves as the next claimant to Anna Nicole's baby).
I do think the MSM will savage Giuliani at least as aggressively as they would any more traditionally conservative candidate. They will trot out the Il Duce references from pre-9/11 and paint him as a complete fascist. This won't be helpful in trying to pick up independent-dem votes to make up for the lost votes from social and libertarian pubbies.