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It was decided before it even started is my point.

It may have been decided by the establishment, but not by the populace at large. Of course, Bush the Elder also beat Reagan in Iowa in 1980, thumping no Bibles, and Dole (farm subsidy type guy) being on the same roster. That prompted Reagan to fire the evil John Sears, and just in time.

In '88, Bush couldn't even get a majority in New Hampshire, and Robertson beat Bush (handily) in non-Bible thumping areas like Minnesota and Washington state. Does that mean these places wanted Robertson? No. But like Buchanan's surprisingly strong showing in New Hampshire in '92, it indicated widespread distrust of the anointed candidate.

I think analysis of conditions back then is futile myself. The conventional GOP has been working a very long time to subvert actual free choice of its candidates, and they will resort to all manner of trickery and subterfuge to accomplish it.

Further, history from then is primarily via the main stream media...no internet, no free exchange of ideas and information and no real opportunity for those among us to speak out effectively. In the end, it boils down to personal perceptions, right or wrong, but they really didn’t matter, IMO.