This is not the only reason, but the Republicans we busy shooting down all the candidates with past lies and distortions. Some negative reports were right but no candidate was a pure conservative. Without the adult realization that a candidate could change, they butcher them but were lighter on McCain. They were concentrating so hard that the only one left was McCain. We got McCain by default. The only one that looked young Presidential like, expert on economy and most important could speak with the tone of a President was Romney. Don't forget Romney was right up there with McCain and damn near won. (OK, now lets hear from you Romney haters, let it go)
Independents and dems voting in pubbie primaries didn’t have anything to do with it?