Here though you are talking about choosing a candidate within the Republican party, e.g. Cruz vs. DJT. This happens quite often, happening right now with Dems large slate of candidates. I think what happens much less often is people deciding who they are going to vote for in a general election of Rep vs. Dem. At that point nearly everyone has already decided who they'll vote for, the task of the candidate is to get them out and actually vote.
True, because in one case you are talking about specifics within an ideology whereas in the other you are talking about different ideologies all together. A fundamental shift in a person's world view, which is quite a sea change and doesn't happen over night.
My father worked in politics and I came from a very politically aware and focused family. Conversations invariably revolved around the political issues of the day at the dinner table (back in the days where families always had dinner together). This was mostly in the tumultuous 70s during the cultural revolution and a brother in Vietnam. I was born and raised a Liberal Democrat, worked in local elections, and went door to door campaigning for Jimmy Carter as well as other local Democratic politicians (at my father's none negotiable request). It's only after I was out on my own paying bills and taxes and experience how much the country changed for the better under Reagan and hearing the other side of the argument other than the one I grew up with did I switch to Republican and supported Reagan in his second term.
Here I am 45 years later with a recent photo of my Father's old boss at church, former Governor Ariyoshi. He was, is, such a dignified and honorable man and I really looked up to him and admired him. For him I didn't mind going door to door passing out fliers. Served for two terms as Governor of Hawaii. Needless to say he was not please knowing I had switched parties but doesn't hold it against me.
