When Ronald Reagan ran in 1980, he was the only candidate seeking the then New Right and Christian Right vote. All other campaigns, with the exception of Congressman Phil Crane, were seeking the establishment vote. In that cycle, former Texas Governor John Connally, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Tennessee Senator Howard Baker divided the establishment vote. In the 2016 cycle, just the opposite is occurring.
Jeb Bush is currently the only candidate openly seeking the establishment vote while several Republican candidates will divide the conservative vote.
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