That's what people said about GWB, who (other than his SCOTUS appointments) has been a disaster for conservatism and the Republican Party, which has taken the blame for GWB's largely liberal policies.
And they were right.... GWB was the most conservative who could win, to run in 2000 and he was a damn site better than Algore or John Kerry Heinz...
Thompson is to the right of Bush and again the most conservative who can win in the race.