Observation #1: Some Republicans support a moderate candidate instead of a very conservative candidate, because they believe that the moderate candidate is electable and the conservative candidate is not.
Observation #2: Other Republicans support a moderate candidate instead of a very conservative candidate, because they themselves are moderate (or liberal) and do not like the conservative positions which have been espoused by the conservative candidate.
Observation #3: Most Republicans who support a moderate candidate instead of a very conservative candidate fall into category #2. However, they avoid professing to be in this category, while simply claiming to be in category #1.
Sad but true.
Just some observations based upon my experiences. (It's sometimes helpful to know what we're up against.)
Another observation, many Keyes critics say they were turned off to Keyes because he criticized President Bush.
In other words, forget whether the criticism of Bush is true ir false, just pay attention to the fact that Bush was criticized. But then the Keyes critics are caught in a contradiction and in hypocricy: They often critize Republicans they don't agree with!
As great as he was, Reagan was sometimes wrong. He was wrong in appointing O'Connor and Kennedy, and he was wrong in his "11th commandment". We should NEVER blindly follow a party at the expense of principles. Keyes has rights.
Bump to those observations.