Other than cochran calling conservatives a bunch of racists and getting the Black vote to come out for him McDaniel wins this going away. McDaniel was a very credible candidate. The problem with "sugar coating" the message is voters don't know what to believe or expect from the candidate.
I can remember voting for candidates that were "soft" thinking that they would be tough once they were in office and every time they let me down. As I watch this country decline my thinking is if the candidate isn't a conservative there is no point in voting.
Reagan was not a soft message guy. He was tough as nails. People often think he was soft because he was smooth, relaxed and jovial. He stuck to his principals when all those around him wavered. We need leaders that are tough conservatives.
We are saying the same thing. Reagan stuck with his conservative principles, but he was incredibly skilled at delivering his message without scaring anyone. His famous "shining city on the hill" made every one feel optimistic. McDaniel should have talked less about cutting spending (which scares many people) and talked more about TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY. That TEA party name is incredibly effective yet I hardly hear it being repeated often.