“Rove and McConnell are in the business of winning elections, not losing them, so if they see a conservative as a winner they’ll back the conservative”
They are in the business of electing establishment Republicans, as is the NRSC.
Did McConnell back Rand Paul or Trey Grayson? Did the NRSC back Rubio or Crist? Cruz or Dewhurst? Is Rove backing conservatives over moderates? What was Rove’s track record in winning in 2012 with huge amounts of money at his disposal?
Shannon may be a good guy. I know nothing about him. But I do know that Bridenstine had the guts to vote against Boehner for Speaker. Where does Shannon stand on that? I know that the Senate Conservatives Fund, Madison Project, and Eric Erickson are urging Bridenstine to run, and for good reason. I know McConnell has declared war on Tea Party candidates and is using the NRSC to carry out that war.
If you don’t see a trend in the type of candidate backed by Rove, McConnell, and the NRSC, you haven’t been paying attention. If they back a conservative, it’s likely because they couldn’t get a squish to step up.
Well, you’re right that Rove and McConnell won’t support Bridenstine in the primary, but since it appears that Bridenstine won’t be running the question is academic.
If Lankford, Shannon and Bridenstine it is unlikely that any of them will get to 50%+1, thus necessitating a run-off. You’re obviously committed to Bridenstine, and will support him in the first round. But if there’s a Shannon-Lankford runoff, I would hope that you will analyze both candidates’ records and support the one whom you believe will do the best job in the Senate (electability shouldn’t be an issue with those two, and place the odds of winning the general at 99% for Shannon and 95% for Lankford), and not reflexively support the one who didn’t get the Rove or McConnell endorsement.