Unfortunately Schundler as well as Bill Simon lost, and lost big time. Which brings up another question, did they lose because of their messages or because of the way they ran their campaigns? I think a bit of both. Frankly, winning general elections in America is about energizing moderates and the middle base. Not the base. You energize the base to win primaries. Now, winning over the base is important, but normally to win the actual election you can't cater 100% to your base unless you want to lose. Reagan is one of the few exceptions to the rule, but he was a fantastic candidate.
The ONLY way you will see more conservative candidates move up through the GOP is working with the GOP, not against it.
I agree that it was a combination of both. People in Jersey are generally idiots and were afraid of a pro-2nd Amendment candidate. At the same time, the Republican Party completely screwed over the Schundler campaign.
However, let's look at the long-term picture. I have put my reputation on the line here on FR, and have GUARANTEED that Schundler will win the general election in '05. Judging by McSkeevy's poll numbers currently, this is not far-fetched to believe.
As long as that happens, I'm willing to deal with 4 years of McGreevy. IMO, four years of the Skeeve followed by a Schundler victory beats the hell out of a scumbag RINO like DiFrancesco or Whitman running the state for 8.
I guess what I am saying is that I am personally willing to "hold my nose" and vote for someone I dislike in the General Election, but in the primaries, I will ALWAYS vote my concience, regardless of the "electability" of my chosen candidate.