Those who voted "third party"....

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I think you're falling into the same trap that the Republicans fell into after 2008. That is, the belief that if only the candidates were more conservative then they could be elected. Romney, while a political chameleon, was as right as the party wanted him to be. He was all about repealing Obamacare,fiscal solvency, etc. He was also outspokenly pro-life and in favor of traditional marriage. He was as right as they get, and still managed to lose.

The question becomes WHY did he lose? Was it that because he "lost" the independant vote? Did he lose because of extreme hard right views? No - he didn't. He won the undecided, independent vote. The reason he lost was because the conservative "base" stayed home. Why? Because he was the political chamelion - he was a moderate masquerading as a conservative.

He lost because 3 Million Conservative voters stayed home. He didn't energize them - because they saw him for what he was - a moderate in disguise. Had he been a true conservative - he would have had 3 Million more voters - many in the key areas that were critical to the contest.

Hamilton Country is the perfect example. Turnout was great - but it was not high on the Team R side. That is where he lost Ohio - for example. Look at the record - when Team R stands on principle - it wins. When it nominates moderates - whether they claim to have "seen the light" or not - it loses. It is not just nationally either..... Look at Scott Brown. He was elected as a "conservative" - he represented as a moderate. When he ran again - he lost - because he didn't represent the conservative ideals he ran on.
Occam's Razor tells us the answer is simple.