my choice in the 2000 primaries was Buchanan. I still think he would have done a better job and for the most part is much more conservative.. (Buchanan's only flaw in my book, is his protectionist stand...which is a heck of a lot better than opening our borders and making mexico the US and canada one country like Bush wants....)
They built the majority 6 years before Bush on conservative ideals. Bush helped them lose it by the way he governed. But the Congress was as much to blame.