[The Republican Party has survived moderate nominees in the past—Gerald Ford, GHW Bush, and others.]
Has it survived? Or has it become neo liberal, I say it is neo liberal.
With the media lined up almost 100% on the Democratic side (vs. maybe 5% pro-Republican and 5% for fringe parties to the left of the 'Rats), it's an uphill struggle to persuade independents to vote Republican...so I'm willing to vote for less-than-perfect Republicans considering the alternative.