The sad fact is that conservatives, even the various Tea Parties, are fragmented. There is no monolith called conservatism. Conservatives are so in love with their own narrow agendas they will not coalesce into a viable focused force capable of winning.
You are correct about needing a leader. There are at least two and perhaps three. Ted and Rand and perhaps Mark. Ted Cruz seems to have the current favor but fickle conservatives might damn him tomorrow for some trivial word outside their narrow minded view.
There was once Sarah but she has proved to be a coy failure. Her present force as a national figure is spent. She can come help others but for the current future her wad is shot. Perhaps in 2024.
Believe it or don’t, I am not a GOPe type. I am however a realist and a rational thinker. So long as the conservatives continue to insist on their on individual agenda with no broad conservative agenda, there can be no winning. I speak with the knowledge gained from being here every day for many years and wittnessing the petty folly.