All the guys who imagine they can hold their base just by registering as a Republican and then campaigning for the non existent undecided middle of the road moderate swing voters LOSES!
There's this iron clad rule of campaigning they always forget ~ first secure your base. Cater to them. Attract those who are like minded about your solutions even before you campaign ~ BTW, learn what it is they will be like minded about too ~ they are NOT interested in more reacharounds.
The other rule to observe and never violate is DON'T DISCOURAGE YOUR BASE OR EVEN A PART OF IT FROM VOTING 'CAUSE THAT"S WHAT WILL HAPPEN
The last 8 years Republicans seem to have abandoned voter registration drives so the storehouse of like-minded Republicans is replenished. We have rules in Virginia that make getting on a primary ballot so difficult we actually don't have enough folks running to attract a crowd!
That's not the way to play the game.