Why Jeb Bush’s faith outreach failed

After former Florida Governor Jeb Bush withdrew from the 2016 Republican presidential nominating contest Feb. 20 after a disappointing showing in the South Carolina primary, obituaries of a moribund campaign finally out of its misery flooded news sites.

The reasons were predictable: The party’s base had become angrier in the years since Bush left office in 2007. Jeb was too wonky and lacked his brother’s charisma. He embodied the party establishment GOP voters have grown to despise.

But a key puzzle remains in understanding why an early frontrunner could fail so spectacularly: Jeb Bush and his campaign simply did not attract the support of religious conservatives. Based on Bush’s policy positions and actions, he should have been a favorite of social conservatives.

What happened?