GOP Brain Teaser: Are Most Conservative Most Electable?

In the wake of stirring victories by insurgents in Republican primaries, the party is having a debate about ideology and practicality, Roll Call reports. It essentially boils down to this: Are the most conservative candidates always the most electable ones? Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Thune of South Dakota apparently doesn’t think so.

“I think you want to maximize the number of Republicans that you can elect because in order to govern — in order to set the agenda and organize the Senate — it starts with getting a majority,” he said. “Obviously, it would [be] nice if that would be a conservative majority. But there are certain places in the country where you’re not going to elect the same brand of Republican.”

National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas has an appealing solution. “I’m for the most conservative, electable candidate,” he said.