John Cox couldn't credibly say "I'm the only real conservative" in 2002 and 2004 because his opponents pledged equally conservative platforms. Instead, John Cox came off as arrogant and holier-than-thou. If his primary opponents had been Judy Biggert & Sid Mathesis, then an "I'm the only real conservative" message might reasonate with primary voters.
Mitt Romney's message will work if it comes down to him and Giuliani, but not if he's saying "I'm the only true conservative" and Duncan Hunter is his opposition.
I agree. And don't count out Newt.
Here in IL, a lot of conservative leaders are getting together tomorrow to talk about the Durbin 2008 campaign and who to run, if anyone, against it.
This is reminiscent of the Conservative Summit that chose Brady. The conservatives have always criticized the JimEdgar-JimThompson crowd for having a small, handpicked group annoint the candidates. It leaves a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of Republicans that conservatives then try to do the same thing, both because it is the wrong way to do things, and because it makes the conservatives look hypocritical.
These types of efforts are inevitably doomed to failure. In the Conservative Summit that annointed Brady, some conservative leaders were intentionally not invited, or invited with only 9 hours notice. Even more conservative leaders were not invited because they were overlooked by the cliqueish conservatives who organized that Summit and think that they are the only conservatives that count.
No matter how hard the organizers of such an even try, it is impossible to include everyone. Thus, events like that one tomorrow are doomed to failure if they try to annoint anyone.
Furthermore, the conservatives who really care about winning and are available to do something on Saturday, should be working the streets of Arlington Hts tomorrow and not checking each other's navels in a circle.