TBBT?
a. Doesn't have a ground game
b. Is running an amateur campaign
c. Isn't really running at all, he's just trying to sell books
d. Isn't ready for prime time
e. Doesn't know how to surround himself with the right people, which is what he brags about all the time
f. If he can't even get on the ballot, how is he going to run our Country?
g. Oh, and did I mention he's black?
Really, G is the only one that matters for the haters. But they won't say that out loud.
In the real world, this happens with some candidates every year. It's unfortunate from an Image perspective, but not from an actual Winning Strategy perspective. Spend your money and your time where the votes will put you in the White House, not where they are just for SHOW in the Show Me state.
(This is no way a deal-breaker for me, but for the record, I would rather a candidate get on the ballot in EVERY state, just to show respect for all 57 states, since he/she will be President of all 57 states. And if I lived in Missouri and my candidate didn't bother to get on my ballot, I would be pretty angry.)