Moderates, Independents, and even Democrats Prefer More Conservative GOP Presidential Candidates

americanthinker.com ^ | 5/12/15 | Sierra Rayne

[cotton1706]

Despite the narrative that many have tried to develop over the past two decades, the voting data is clear: moderates, independents, and even Democrats prefer to vote for more conservative Republican presidential candidates.

The Roper Center at the University of Connecticut contains a useful database of how various groups voted in presidential elections since 1976. For moderates and independents, it is clear that Ronald Reagan was the only GOP candidate they really liked.

The results are stunning. Reagan -- easily the most conservative anti-establishment GOP candidate over this period -- took nearly twice as much of the independent vote as did his Democratic opponents. There was a residual Reagan carry-over into G.H.W. Bush’s 1988 election, with independents still supporting the GOP based on Reagan’s record, but by 1992 -- after Bush 41’s clear leanings to the center over his first term and his four-year track record of rejecting Reaganesque principled conservatism -- the independents walked away from the Republicans again and haven’t come back.

The same trend is evident among moderates. Reagan is the only GOP candidate to capture more of the moderate vote than the Democrats. Since 1992, the story has been consistent -- weak GOP candidates equal a consistently losing share of the moderate vote, in sharp contrast to the winning share received under Reagan.

More conservative GOP candidates also garner more votes from Democrats.

[cotton1706]

Don't think the Establishment isn't already aware of this. Yet they INSIST on pushing the most moderate to liberal candidates they can find.

Because they're goal is not to win, but to thwart the advance of conservatism...as we have seen, by any means necessary.

[Biggirl]

“Don’t think the Establishment isn’t already aware of this. Yet they INSIST on pushing the most moderate to liberal candidates they can find.
Because they’re goal is not to win, but to thwart the advance of conservatism...as we have seen, by any means necessary.”

Yet this is a sure sign that the conservative movement is resurging and cannot be stopped.

[Graybeard58]

15 or so conservative or conservative sounding republican candidates in the primaries against one blatant and open rino Jeb Bush. Are conservatives about to shoot themselves in the foot again ala Mitt Romney?

[Diogenesis]

EXEMPT undocumented Democrats, Give Obama Power (GOP) party:
"Not us. We, your perpetual Lords, support our beloved King Obama, and
utterly HATE conservatives and the evil Tea Party.".

[Lurkinanloomin]

Many of those conservative sounding candidates are in reality blockers for Bush. Paid for by The Cheap Labor Express to split the votes of conservatiives to assure they get their amnesty candidate.
The goal of the RNC/GOP is not to win, it is to prevent a conservative from winning.

[Lurkinanloomin]

If Ted Cruz can somehow be nominated, I have no doubt that hed win in a landslide. The real obstacle is the RNC/GOP’s insistence on an amnesty candidate, ala Romney and McCain.
A designated loser is what they’re after.