There was enough mess and recrimination in the McCain-Palin campaign that you don't have to postulate evil Mitt behind it all - they were already destroying each other.
And no, even if Romney had beaten Kennedy, there is no way Republicans would have nominated him for president in 1996.
In the extremely unlikely event Mitt Romney had been nominated in 1996, he would have been beaten as badly as Dole was, without real lasting damage to Republicans or conservatives.
But the myth just grows.
You can go back and research the hundreds of discussion threads at the time. This is common knowledge. I never implied that Willard was the SINGULAR force in destroying her, but he WAS a substantial force for the simple fact that Palin was in his way, and he never lets any Conservative get in his way.
I vehemently disagree regarding Ted Kennedy. He absolutely saw that as his entrée to being handed the ‘96 Presidential nomination. It would have happened. The party was desperate for someone seen as a winner, and toppling Ted would’ve seen him coronated. Remember, the party was going to nominate the liberal RINO Colin Powell had he chosen to run.
I didn’t imply that Willard was going to throw the election as he did in 2012 had he been nominated in 1996, he would’ve run to win, not to play ringer for Bubba. He then would’ve implemented his leftist agenda, destroyed the GOP majority by 1998 and handed the election to the Democrat in 2000. Do I believe he is that malevolent ? You bet your ass I do.