You mean like Reagan did in 1976, when he failed to win the nomination?
You had to go back almost 3 1/2 decades to find that example. Our Nation has changed greatly since then. Just look at Obama and his radical ideology being elected to the Office. Today our nation is bored very easily, they have constantly seen Huckabee, Romney, and Palin on TV, it is not as exciting, not like a Trump or Christie who brings high energy. High energy = Many votes.