As far as I could discern, Cucinelli lost because he was so busy appealing to the base that he failed to sell his ideas to the center. The ads I saw were terrible. Frankly, I put this loss at the feet of the DC consulting class, which is RINO to the core, IOW, it was a classic RINO backstabbing, as they did to any number of TEA Party candidates. The GOPe will not suffer challenge, because their status is more important to them than are the ideas the Party supposedly exists to advance.
I agree with your first two sentences, but fail to see how they mesh with the rest of what you wrote. Virginia is still a center-right state, as it has been for 25 years, but any Republican must pick up most of the independents and moderates in the center to win a state-wide election.
Fortunately, the Virginia legislature is still mostly conservative and will be able to limit the damage that McAuliffe can do in four years.
Cuccinelli won the independent vote by 9 points.
They’re not going to support a guy who says, “I’m coming to destroy you.” At the same time where was the TEA Party money? I think Ken ran a poor campaign.
Too many FReepers want to see a bogey monster behind each set back. Instead it’s sometimes how we frame the issue, sometimes it’s the candidate, and we have to admit that and work with it.
An example of that was Ted Cruz on Jay Leno’s show. He knew he was in enemy territory, Cruz gave solid answers to a hostile questioner who’s normally as soft as the Pillsbury Dough Boy with his guest, and, I believe, Cruz came off looking pretty reasonable.
On the other hand, when Todd Akin stumbled with his “legitimate rape” statement he simply shot himself in the foot. Cuccinelli did the same thing. He was dodging around trying to “be” something. He, and every candidate, need to “do” something. He wasn’t ready for prime time.
TEA Party candidates have to be professional and have to run a campaign that is tight and focused. I believe they’ll do best in House Districts, not statewide or nationally. If you are thinking of running or know a potential candidate, then send ‘em to school: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/