Whoever is selected in 2012 has to appeal to more than conservatives. He/she doesn’t do that by abandoning or watering down conservative principles (and Rudy and Romney both did), but appeals to others on another level as a leader, some one who can give a speech and elicit crowd support. Obama did that though he gave pablum to the drones and he did it again last night - he looks presidential.
Sarah too can do it. I was in a hotel in Dallas on business and was yelling in the room and got on the phone to family to make sure they heard her convention speech. The print and mainstream media will crap on every Republican candidate no matter what. To be successful the candidate has to push them aside and go out to the people. That’s what Sarah did and I don’t believe it was the novelty either. When she came on the scene I went out and signed up voters and donated to the campaign, something I have never done before nor would have if McCain had selected anyone else. Similarly, whoever is on the ticket in 2012 has to inspire others to do the same, especially if Obama flimflams his way through the next four years.
After four years of the messiah, I think a good, honestly, straight-forward person will appeal to a great number of people, not just conservatives.