[lara]

You still did not answer my question. What did you mean when you said that the "Abortion is #1 crowd" won't leave?

You say that Keyes got 30% of the extreme pro-life vote. So what happens to that 30% when the Republicans try to run a moderate next time? And Keyes election wasn't based on morals alone. He backed President Bush 100% in the war on Iraq. Actually, when you think about it, Iraq is a morals issue too, isn't it?

[JeffAtlanta]

So what happens to that 30% when the Republicans try to run a moderate next time?

Probably only about 10% was actually "abortion is the #1 issue" voters The other 20% were do or die republicans. That 10% sits at home and is replaced by urban pro-choice fiscal conservatives. This is how Specter and all other moderates get elected.

As I've written before, the rabid "Abortion is the only true issue" crowd scares away more voters than it attracts. Its the equivalent to the ACT-UP crowd in democratic party. Notice, I didn't say "pro-lifers" - I specified those that view banning abortion as the only real issue and that all others really don't matter.

[JeffAtlanta]

Actually, when you think about it, Iraq is a morals issue too, isn't it?

This is what scares people. The left played up the morals card during the election to make us look like backwoods bible thumpers and not only did the left buy it, but a large portion of the right did too.

If Bush had proposed rolling back the tax cuts he would not have been reelected. If Bush had proposed giving the UN a larger role in US foreign policy he would not have been elected. If Bush had proposed a national health care system he would not have bee reelected. None of those have anything to do with morals. People voted for national security and economic policy.

BTW, Iraq is about national security.