Leo Strauss never got elected to any office, but today he is ruling the world. Even his neo-con acolytes never got elected to any office -- they backed the wrong horse, McCain. Yet somehow they still managed to grab control of the reins of power.
Ideas have consequences. One of the worst ideas with the worst consequences is that one should sacrifice your principles in order to get elected. Another terrible idea right up at the top of the list is that societal promotion of homosexuality will lead to anything other than the collapse of our civilization.