With most “extreme” candidates (the word that libs and squishy RINOs use, not my word) like O’Donnell, Angle, etc., their positions are never the problem, it’s how they present them, and, more importantly, how their positions, and their “baggage,” is presented by the media.
Conservatives rarely lose for being too conservative. They lose for not effectively MARKETING their conservatism to those who would support them, and effectively explaining and disclosing anything that could be construed as baggage. Many candidates like COD who are relatively inexperienced politically just haven’t figured out how to do that. Palin’s another good example. Her positions aren’t that different from Reagan’s, yet Reagan was elected in a landslide, and Palin would probably have lost as big as McCain in ‘08 had she been at the top of the ticket. To Palin’s credit she has made great strides in improving the image she has (whether she’s a candidate in ‘12 or not).
Not in 1980 though, not in Delaware, Reagan won the state with 47.21% in 1980.