No, I have not yet given this much thought. I think that fiscal conservatism and limited government will trump in the next cycle, but since Obama will run on that platform, it may not count for much. Still too early to tell what the other issues might be. On a tactical level, the successful conservative candidate much aggressively counter EVERY attack made against them by the Left. A spurious charge becomes a fact when left unchallenged and the attacks will be fast, furious, and almost entirely spurious. Most of the leading Conservative candidates are already behind in this effort.
The most important thing will be to vet each candidate state by state and precinct by precinct in a cold hearted and unemotional fashion. Who can really win, and not some pollyanna hopey feely nonsense. White suburban women who voted for Obama in 2008 and Conservative Republican candidates in 2010 will elect the next President in 2012.
Thanks for the response and the candor. I haven’t given it much thought, either. Any conservative candidate worth his/her salt ought to be able to hang Obama on any attempt to claim fiscal conservatism or limited government as his mantle.