they will vote for the candidate that they think will do the most for them
Thats not even remotely correct - that would be a liberal.
They vote for the most likable candidate who promises to do the most or them. No. Bush did not promise to give away the economy to them like the liberals are currently doing.
McCain lost because he was nothing at all that was much different from the real deal leftist libs.
It isn't called McCAin/Kennedy for nothing.
Or the Keating gang.
Or the gang of whatever.
His positions simply were not worth pulling the lever.
And that is why he, and almost any RINO, will lost the big one forever.
Hell, I will contribute to anyone who would run against him in the primary - He was, and is, worthless.
RINOs work to convince liberals that they're not really going to do all the mean nasty things conservatives want to do. Reagan worked to convince people that the things conservatives wanted to do weren't mean and nasty. Which strategy worked better?