“What that essentially means is that while a majority of voters in the state did vote for “a” Republican, Palin apparently is disliked enough by enough Republicans that she would not have won a two-person race between her and the Democrat.”
This is what it’s designed to do. The proponents are aware there is a perennial dispute between MAGA R’s and Open Borders/Pro China/Pro war R’s.
This works out really well for the D’s because the Open Borders assistant democrats rarely will support a conservative let alone a MAGA candidate as their second choice.
On the other hand, the Maga folks usually hold their nose and vote for the very smelly assisitant democrat.
Conservatives have been living with this for decades. If R’s dare to nominate a candidate is not pro-open-borders and pro-FBI abuses, and all wars all the time, then the assistant democrats bail and support the D. And should the R be elected anyway, they will enthusiastically lie, cheat, and steal, to force them out of office..
Republicans are not really a party.
But there is always a risk that if a candidate who is perceived by some voters as too far left or too far right wins their party's nomination, those voters will either for the other side, or just not vote all.