So they are trying to figure out how they can manipulate her into serving their interests.
Without taking anything away from her, I'd say her popularity is based on the fact that she gives voice to what most of us believe. If she gave voice to anything else, she wouldn't be who she is and she would have as much influence as the RINOs who alternatively want to banish her and coopt her.
In other words, it isn't up to her to be a bridge between the GOP grandees and the rank and file membership; its up to the grandees to make up their minds to actually represent the people and principles they were hired to represent.
The professional GOP poobahs think everyone is for sale because evidently everyone they know is for sale. They will be the death of the GOP and no one will mourn it at the rate its going.