Huelskamp went on tv and trashed Trump. He was very public about it. He spoke strongly—some have said nastily—against Trump multiple times.
Undeniably his words and anti-Trump passion encouraged the neverTrump crowd. They went to the convention intent on inflicting maximum damage on Trump—and this they did.
After Trump—despite the truly ugly and undeniably Hillary-helping efforts of the neverTrumps—secured the nomination, Huelskamp did not come out with a public endorsement. He wasn’t camera-shy when he was trashing Trump, but he eschewed the spotlight after Trump won despite him. The damage his anti-Trump campaign had done was not counteracted—certainly not by that feeble, low-profile quote that Cruz-supporters have made so much of.
You can reject the net result of Huelskamp’s actions and rhetoric all day long. Who cares? The bottom line is that he did everything he could to hurt Trump—which helped Hillary—and squat to help Trump. Looks like the voters didn’t appreciate it.
I think it’s a bit more that just that, actually. Remember, the NeverTrump movement has categorized people who would vote for Trump almost exactly as the Democrats do - as racist, mouthbreathing bigoted morons.
For some reason, people don’t appreciate being called that. Especially by political figures who’ve provided no actual proof that they’re any better. Apparently enough people got tired of being told they were morons by the local NeverTrump figurehead (Huelskamp) that they did something about it at their first possible opportunity.
I doubt that has a damn thing to do with why he lost no matter what some stupid blog says. Normal voters are not so fixated on perceived slights to Donald Trump like some freepers are. News articles on the race don’t even mention this silliness.
Rather big money and GOPE lies won out. Sad.