Commentators now argue that Buchananâ??s social conservatism limited his appeal, but that gets it exactly wrong. Being the candidate of social-conservative conviction politics was Buchananâ??s appeal.
Religious and social conservatives are not an especially loyal constituencyâ??at least, they are not loyal to candidates. They will happily switch among candidates, according to who they think best serves their policy goals. In 2000, George W. Bush, Alan Keyes, and Gary Bauer boxed Buchanan out for support among religious conservatives. This development didnâ??t free Buchanan up to win based on immigration and trade. It left Buchanan with no support at all.
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