Wrong. Conservatives could, moderate RINO's couldn't.
“moderate” “RINOs” did just that which is why Romney is going to be the candidate. Conservatives were split between Cain (a typical deadletter for conservatives), Newt (another not going to happen), Santorum (great man but running without a political base, almost impossible), Michelle (needed seasoning), Perry (if he had had a shotgun he would have blown off a leg). So the Conservative votes were divided up among FIVE candidates and I am just speaking of Republicans not Ron Paul.
How is a conservative candidate going to win given THAT?
This is exactly what happened in 2008 as well. Rather than unify behind a realistic candidate to thwart McCain the Right went after one allegedly conservative after the other.