However, you are forgetting Reagan ran on what he called the three legged stool, which included the leg of a strong moral foundation as well. He actively sought evangelical (and catholic) support on these issues, and was very up front about his pro-life stance.
I think a candidate who shorts any one of the three legs Reagan spoke of is missing the mark. Reagan always tied the three ideas together, and did so masterfully.
No, I am not forgetting the three legged stool at all. I am also not forgetting that while Reagan was honest and sincere about his beliefs in social conservatism, he was much more realistic about a President’s job.
You cannot separate Rick’s stool, which has two tiny legs and the doggoned social tree trunk - from his whole presentation. When you walk out with a sweater vest (and YES, optics DO MATTER) and then your family comes out and takes up the whole stage - and you make them a big issue - then you are making the social issues far greater a part of your entire image.
Reagan NEVER did that. His campaign had an entirely different feel, look, smell, essence than Santorums’ does. If Santorum was at all Reaganesque in any way, shape or form, I would likely support him.
He isn’t. I do not.