That's pretty much the only way that the Dems have been able to pick off GOP seats in any but the most left-leaning districts - by running to the Right of the Republican on social issues.
Which - one would think - should be instructive to the "dump the social conservatives" crowd of liberaltarians that helped cost us elections this year.
Actually nearly all those “pro-life, pro-gun” rats defeated “pro-life, pro-gun” Republicans so they didn’t run to the “right of the Republicans” they agreed or pretended to agree with conservative positions.
Basically they ran against Bush but never mentioned they were democrats and would vote 80% with Pelosi.
You are right though dismissing social conservatives would be a disaster. Just like Huckabee’s idea to dump fiscal conservatives would be a disaster.