Yeah, it worked SO well with Romney, McCain and Dole. I guess that the most conservative candidate that we ran (RWR) was an exception to the strategy.
Reagan wasn't seen as a conservative. He was seen as Reagan, a larger than life figure who transcended conservatism. Similarly, some southern states voted for Clinton (vs Dole) not because he was a liberal, but because he was a good old boy who transcended ideology. Obama won purple states despite being a far leftist because the electorate doesn't see him as a far leftist - he transcends leftism. Romney and McCain won the red states. They lost the union states that voted for Reagan against Mondale because he imposed significant protectionist measures to keep union jobs in the country - measures that neither Romney or McCain will stand behind. The free trade orthodoxy that has taken over the GOP is probably the factor that has sunk its electoral fortunes in the rust belt, rather than any number of social issues. Bush II won via superior organization, but Obama showed us twice that the Dems have caught up in that arena, and then some.
Reagan was our FDR. For most of the electorate, to hear either of these men’s voices was to believe and trust them. There is no shortage of conservatives in the GOP. What we lack is someone with Reagan’s charisma. I like Palin, but her personality is grating to the majority of Americans and a large number of Republicans. She also has the distinction of being a half-term governor from a tiny state, population-wise. In the 200+ years of this nation’s history, we’ve had one FDR and one RWR. I wouldn’t count on anyone in the GOP, moderate or conservative, coming anywhere near RWR’s numbers.