I think that the GOP can make inroads in such places by fielding libertarian candidates. Even social liberals want a strong economy!
Absolutely...but nothing I've seen indicates that the national GOP is smart enough to do that. When they do offer up other types of candidates, they turn out to be colorless "moderates" like Bill Jones in California, who hasn't got a prayer of beating Barbara Boxer. Boxer is so far left that she ought to be extremely vulnerable, even in California, but somehow the California GOP (which seems to racing the New Jersey GOP to to bottom for the title of "Least Effective State Party Organization") managed to screw this one up badly.