He also attracted international attention for his conservative stands during United Nations conferences in 1994 and 1995.

Mr. Blunt's conservative stands on social issues also helped him, the surveys said.

On the other hand, the survey found students taking increasingly conservative stands on matters related to crime and the death penalty.

Still, he said, Mr. Simon was a long shot because of his conservative stands and inexperience.

He takes traditionally conservative stands on constitutional issues such as the right to life, the Second Amendment, personal feedoms and parental rights.

He is particularly known for his strongly conservative stands on social issues.

"We're taking moderate, sensible, conservative stands on these issues."

House Republicans have passed a number of measures highlighting their conservative cultural stands.

Both oppose abortion, for example, but they couch their conservative stands in ways that do not threaten those who are not hard-core Republicans.