Think about being in that situation ~ even the Eisenhower campaign didn't have this problem although the Taft Republicans were still riding high at the time ~ they could accept IKE as Supreme Allied Commander and as President.
You have a failed candidate who has no one he allows to be around him who knows how to win this race.
They had their fans ~ and they won the war.
Even if they weren't liked they were respected.
WWII was a coalition event ~ neither Ike nor Zhukof spent very much time disposing of the other factions ~ seriously ~ not very much time at all. Their opponent, though, was all about eliminating all the factions on his side.
That's because the GOP-e business model is never to fight on principle, but only to argue for better seats in the boat on the way to the falls.
The GOP-e make their living by delivering increments of value. If taxes go up 80%, they deliver value by obtaining a 50% discount for this or that industry or family. Then they get their splurge of campaign funds and all is well.
They have no principles, they will wrangle and wrestle but never nail their colors to the mast, because they have no colors, only bank balances and Committees to Re-Elect.
Every four years scores of Democrats posing as Republicans and complaining the GOP frontrunners and eventual nominee aren't conservative enough come piling out of the woodwork. You're either a full-scale ignoramus or one of them. Next.