Playing to the religious leanings of immigrants has worked for Conservatives in previous years on certain issues (anti same sex marriage, abortion, etc.). Yet the anti-immigration / niqab / snitch-line angle has also found traction, although with a different demographic.

Of course, I don't think these approaches can be combined, and either one has the potential to lose just as many votes as it earns.

Harper, knowing they'd hurt his chances at stealing liberal votes, historically did a good job of backbenching the social conservatives, so I'm not sure who would be considered the standard-bearer for that movement these days. The xenophobic movement, on the other hand, has a clear leader in Kellie Leitch.

We'll see which direction the CPC membership chooses in May of this year.