There was a conservative candidate?
Too many conservatives think they should win an election just by showing up.
The Establishment put the word out that no Conservative was going to be given the nomination, and they were going to pull out all the stops to assure “one of theirs” would be the vomitus ringer for the general (under the falsehood that only a “moderate” could win — just like all the other great “moderate” victories post-1932). They were (and are) VERY happy to have Zero in the White House, and if you think that’s a falsehood, take a look at leadership right now and see whose agenda they’re serving — that of Conservatism and the Constitution (and the base of the GOP), or that of Emperor Zero ?
If one did; he (she) would!