Socons are not the only folks who traditionally support republicans in wide margins. Libertarians have historically overwhelmingly voted GOP. From a 2006 analysis of the 2000 and 2004 elections:
“For those on the trail of the elusive swing voter, it may be most notable that the libertarian vote shifted sharply in 2004. Libertarians preferred George W. Bush over Al Gore by 72 to 20 percent, but Bush’s margin dropped in 2004 to 59-38 over liberal John Kerry. Congressional voting showed a similar swing from 2002 to 2004. Libertarians apparently became disillusioned with Republican overspending, social intolerance, civil liberties infringements, and the floundering war in Iraq. If that trend continues into 2006 and 2008, Republicans will lose elections they would otherwise win.”
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/html/pa580/pa580index.html
whoopee, how many people is that?
I know that actual registered members of the libertarian party isn’t even 226,000, Cato is trying to make a case that libertarian voters are the same size as the black vote and that they voted 59% republican in 2004, again, big deal.
Every little bit helps supplement the socon vote though and if they want to keep supporting socon economic policies fine, but really the Hispanic vote is more important right now.
I wonder how many of those people know that they are now libertarians according to Cato?