I understand what you are saying, but hate being considered an establishment republican because I’m looking at this pragmatically re: Sarah...who, as I’ve said, I adore.
But Reagan was an outsider from CALIFORNIA...his home state brought brought like 20% of the needed electoral college votes to actually win. No Dem is going to win if they lose CA.
Since 50% of the population voted for a known socialist last election, you have to look at demographics IMO.
Take a look at the 2010 map.
If Palin wins the McCain states from 2008, plus the states that her endorsed candidates won in 2010, she wins in a landslide. Many of those states went Republican in the governorship, the state legislature, and House and Senate seats. Some turned completely RED (republican)
The vast majority of her endorsed candidates won, despite the media focus on a couple loses, and the beltway elites blaming her for losing the Senate (so bogus, as she was instrumental in the record victory in the house and governorships)
She and the Tea Party are the wild card. and the movement is just getting rolling.