Who's the most conservative Republican that could win the election?

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

I believe Rick Santorum can win in America's heartland because he presents conservative values in an appealing way and can possibly appeal to those blue collar Democrat voters

I was proud to be one of 550 San Franciscans to vote for Rick Santorum, and I'd do it again!

His views on gay marriage, contraception, and foreign policy make it virtually impossible for him to win the Presidency, in my opinion.

Yeah but lets be honest, He is not working to get the votes of  the West Village and the Castro. I'll bet you if you take  NY/CA/New England out of the national gay "Marriage" polls, trad'l marriage would be largely supported.

Yeah, because of course when you get rid of over half the country, the minority will win.

[H. Ross Peron]

John Thune or Kelly Ayotte, I'm thinking. They're both fairly lockstep conservatives, but they tend to have a measured approach that will serve them well. Rubio seems to be moving to the center a bit. Cruz is just way over the top, coming off as paranoid and extreme. He's pretty much a guaranteed loser.

Would they run or if they do win the nomination? Both of them have even less name recognition then Tim Pawlenty.

[RogueBeaver]

Any of the non-Paul conservatives.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

John Thune or Kelly Ayotte, I'm thinking. They're both fairly lockstep conservatives, but they tend to have a measured approach that will serve them well. Rubio seems to be moving to the center a bit. Cruz is just way over the top, coming off as paranoid and extreme. He's pretty much a guaranteed loser.

Would they run or if they do win the nomination? Both of them have even less name recognition then Tim Pawlenty.

They both have the chance to be the sensible, non-threatening "conservative alternative" to Christie, if it comes to that. Mitch Daniels too, but he won't run.

Also, don't count out Scott Walker. He might be more conservative than those two, but he's also a better campaigner.

[CountryClassSF]

Ah, indeed, re: Walker.  I'm not convinced he'll run in 2016, but what he was able to do especially in surviving the recall after the union $ was thrown at him was remarkable from both a political and a practical standpoint

[H. Ross Peron]

John Thune or Kelly Ayotte, I'm thinking. They're both fairly lockstep conservatives, but they tend to have a measured approach that will serve them well. Rubio seems to be moving to the center a bit. Cruz is just way over the top, coming off as paranoid and extreme. He's pretty much a guaranteed loser.

Would they run or if they do win the nomination? Both of them have even less name recognition then Tim Pawlenty.

They both have the chance to be the sensible, non-threatening "conservative alternative" to Christie, if it comes to that. Mitch Daniels too, but he won't run.

Also, don't count out Scott Walker. He might be more conservative than those two, but he's also a better campaigner.

I think Scott Walker and Mitch Daniels have a shot if they run. But both Thune and Ayotte have to increase their name recognition while having to have Rubio drop out.

[morgieb]

Hard to say. Depends on Obama's second term.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Thune or Rubio. Santorum, Pence, and Cruz are too over-the-top and are scary to swing voters.