In every Republican primary, strong appeal to the religious-right and/or ultra-right "base" IS important, and always plays a part if determining who becomes the Republican candidiate.

Then, in the general election, many of those GOP condidiates get elected, very often based upon their entirely bogus claim of "fiscal responsibility," because they promise not to give money to poor people (code for non-white people), but spend as much or more than any Democrat by giving money to the rich and well-connected.

That's how the will of a loud and determined minority is imposed upon the nation as a whole.