No there is not a huge difference.    Eg:  Canada is not a socially conservative country.    Yet, McVety bragged about having the ear of the PM (especially early in his first term).   Ultimately, Harper had to disappoint McVety exactly because Canada is NOT a socially conservative country.    But McVety and his flock of supporters as well as others like him were key in getting Harper the leadership of the Alliance as well as getting Harper into his first minority.