The Buckley rule is a crock. The reasoning goes that since centrists are in the middle, they can draw votes from both sides. The Buckley rule is almost always used AGAINST more conservative candidates. In other words, the centrists rate electability higher. Secondly, no one can prove electability until the actual election. We can generally conclude that one candidate is more electable than another in extreme cases, but it’s not a given.
I have my own rules: vote conservative in the primary. Electability is just one of many factors, not the predominate one. In the general, vote to beat the most liberal.
BTW, thanks for the polite response. It appears the worm has turned in the Kirk race.
I will grant you that there are a number of races where the more conservative, Tea Partyish candidate won the primary, and now is going on to win the election, putting the Buckley rule in a new light (i.e. sometimes the most conservative candidate who can win really is the Conservative!). Paul and Rubio both good examples. But sometimes it just goes too far, as in Del.