How big is the conservative base?

Question

Some argue the choice of Palin energized the "conservative base" and if that's the case who and with how many are these people? I seem to recall McCain wasn't exactly their first choice for President

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59988

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24771

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOctLpXgHxE

but he won the GOP nomination connivingly anyway. Is McCain pandering to a conservative base that's out of touch with America and even with the mainstream Republican voter?

Answer 1

The conservative base is the majority of Republican voters, most libertarian voters, theoretically half of moderates and independents and some democrats.  Conservatives in all make up more than half of the registered voters in the US.  So the conservative base can't be "out of touch with America" because the conservatives are America.

Answer 2

I really do not think McCain won the nomination in a conniving way, he and his record have pretty much been up front from the very beginning.

It all boils down to voting for the lessor of two evils and or voting against someone as opposed to voting for someone.

I will vote for a person that shows he has the best interest of the country at heart even if I do not completely agree with his views as opposed to a person that has pandered to the anti American racist trash that others have and shows no true concern other than winning the presidency.  

Answer 3

It's the same as the democrats pandering to the radical left which is out of touch with America

The political situation is a mess.  

Answer 4

Big enough to give Obama the White House just by staying home on election day.  

Palin is great but McCain will need to do more than just throw Conservatives that one bone.  

Answer 5

According to most experts Liberals make up about 15-20% of the electorate, Conservatives make up about 25-30% of the electorate and the rest are Moderates.

Answer 6

Palin will energize the most conservative of the GOP.  However, the base is much smaller than it was 10 years ago.  That's probably largely due to how unpopular Bush is as president.

Meanwhile, the Dems have increased their base by millions.  The prolonged primary also led to highly organized voter registration campaigns in many states.  There are more Democrats than Republicans.  The issue is that the GOP get out the vote efforts tend to be much more successful. I think that will change this year.  Obama has an amazing ground organization nation wide.

Answer 7

Palin scares the be-Jesus out of me.  She is corrupt, power-hungry, and freakin' fanatical about anti-abortion.  The thought of her taking over after McCain croaks should make any wise citizen of the US to run for the border.

Answer 8

The conservative base was big enough to defeat Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.

Answer 9

I saw a conservative woman at the store....man, that was a big base...I'm talkin huge here.