I have often said what is missing from the Conservative side, is someone who can bridge the secular conservative libertarian types, with the social conservative religious types, to form an almost unbeatable coalition of conservatism. I believe this is what Reagan managed to do, and why he was so resoundingly popular. We see Reagan, not as a 'radical religious rightie' because he didn't wear his religious faith on his sleeve, and it never came between him and his belief that The People were the ultimate authority under our Constitution. Yet much of what Reagan is remembered for, is very religiously rooted... 'The Shining City on the Hill' is a direct Biblical reference. Reagan was able to intertwine faith values into the conservative message and make the case for BOTH, in a way very few conservatives have mastered before or since. Perhaps it's monumental to ask for that again in a lifetime, but that is certainly the type of voice the GOP currently needs. We've allowed our party to split into two factions, those who hold strong religiously moral values along with conservative fiscal values, and those who don't care so much for religious moral values, but fall in line with Ayn Rand on conservative fiscal principles. The "ideal" candidate to represent both factions, would be someone who can articulate to the religious right, how smaller, limited government, is not going to be there to mandate morality on the social issues, that will be the responsibility of the people and their respective states and the federal government plays no role, except to address issues of fundamental constitutionality. And who can also articulate to the secular right, how "faith" values factor in to core conservatism, and why they are essential to the movement, and without them, conservatism fails. It will take a "coming together" of both factions, both viewpoints, and it will take a person who understands this, and who can articulate it, to make that happen.