There's two ways of thinging about this, if the goal is for a conservative majority, and not simply a party affiliation majority.
First, one strategy is to polorize the electorate, such that the "moderates" choose what they see as the lesser of two evils. We hope they see a conservative GOP as such. This works because it gets their votes, but deprives them of significant power.
Another way, and the more honorable one, is to convert people to conservatism. Find issues that hit close to them on a more personal/local level, and pursuade them that a change in politics can affect change in their lives. How much more this can be done, who knows? But can you honestly say that Delay made more Americans conservative? Or did he just squeeze more dollars to the right?
It is becoming apparent that the people running this party nowadays are becoming more detached, more elite, and answer to money, not as much to the people who vote them in. NOT a recipe for success, because we are too smart for that.
And yes, we do need to pick politicians that will do just the right thing. Better than getting scalded.
Pefection rarely exists in real life and even less in politics.