I meant losing a Republican seat in the Senate, not the presidential race.

I like to think I support conservative and/or libertarian candidates because I agree with their principles, not because I simply want them to gain political power. Heck, if conservatives thought like Hillary, they would have supported Specter regardless of his positions just to make sure of that Senate seat.

I voted for McClintock for governor, not Arnold. And while Arnold hasn't done too badly, his politics are not very tightly tied down, and I still wish McClintock were governor now.

The hard truth is that a candidate usually is a lot more successful in the long run if he is true to his or her own principles, regardless of which way the wind is blowing.