I had the same thought. I kinda think that's what they're doing. Remember the 2008 primaries? John McCain was a dead horse through the first few primaries and I thought he was out of the picture. That fact kinda tells me that people don't form hard opinions early in a race. Personally, I think waiting for a blitz closer to the election makes more sense, especially since a lot of voters have the attention span of a gnat.
Juan McLame was dead in the water until he won ONE primary and the media ‘annointed’ him as the chosen one
WE LET THE MEDIA AND THE DEMOCRAPS PICK OUR CANDIDATE (the GOP leadership did, that is)