Many political observers have noted that Republican presidential candidates tend to emphasize their conservative positions on policy issues while running for their party's nomination, and Democratic presidential candidates tend to emphasize their liberal positions on policy issues while running for their party's nomination. In the general election, though, Republican candidates tend to downplay their conservative positions, and Democratic candidates tend to downplay their liberal positions.
a. Can the median voter theorem help explain this pattern? Briefly explain.
b. A columnist at New York Magazine commenting on the 2020 presidential campaign observed: "For obvious reasons, the median voter theorem is unpopular among ideologues in both parties." What does the columnist mean by "ideologues"? Why would the median voter theorem be unpopular with ideologues?