It's because the basic arguments of Rule of Law, equal justice, and fiscal conservatism constitute both a powerful shield AND sword.

As a shield, you can argue essentially, "hey, we're the good guys" without any guile or double-speak - because you REALLY WOULD BE.

And the opportunities for running negative campaigning against the enemy based on those 3 above principles are nearly endless and absolutely crushing.

AND it affords the opportunity to turn the opponents' negative ads into both sword and shield for oneself - by pointing out the way wedge issues are used to the detriment of the democratic process. It is a win-win-win situation. As a non-wedge issue non-hot-button candidate I would PRAY for my opponents to try to run that line of argument with me.

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