I personally think that it is not surprising, given how wacko left the democrat party has gone, that there have been oodles of liberals infusing the republicans in recent years. People really don't want to be communist, if given a choice, and I think we give them a choice as far as that goes. But it isn't a very good situation for conservatives. So yes, I think anyone who wishes to woo conservatives is in a very good spot right now.
Also, 9-11 caused a right-ward shift that is uneasily easing back to center in the absence of further catastrophe.
"I personally think that it is not surprising, given how wacko left the democrat party has gone, that there have been oodles of liberals infusing the republicans in recent years. People really don't want to be communist, if given a choice, and I think we give them a choice as far as that goes. But it isn't a very good situation for conservatives."
There is a solution, though the mainstream press won't like it. Drive hard right. If the leftists have been able to coopt the Democrat party to the extent that they have, it means these liberal refugees into the Republican party *can* in practice be driven out of a political party.
What is needed is for conservatives to do what the new left is doing on their side, and squeeze out the "centre." Let them be disenfranchised, or run a third party candidate.
It's one thing to welcome a bloc of voters because they prefer the GOP as the lesser or two evils. It's quite another to let them obtain power in their new party without converting, politically speaking.
A principled Left against a principled "Right" will not play out in election coverage, but whether or not most Americans like it, such a showdown would be effective.