"One has to somehow hold open the door," a senior party strategist said tonight.

Some party strategists said they would pursue a religious and cultural war with the Democrats.

But, many party strategists and officials say, it also demonstrates the party's shift to the right.

One leading party strategist said the nation's attitudes were at an important crossroads.

But to the dismay of some national party strategists, state officials took a conservative approach.

And at this point, party strategists said, they do not necessarily intend to.

Some party strategists say they do not want to overplay their hand.

"They must be going out of their minds today," one party strategist said, referring to the Democratic candidates for president.

But the issue is not as simple as party strategists might have expected.

Several party strategists said they expected him to get vigorous competition from the white candidates for this black support.