O RLY, Stu Rothenberg?

Normally I appreciate Stu Rothenberg's columns in Roll Call. But in an otherwise forgettable column today Rothenberg argued:

DeMint and others of his ideological stripe continue to believe that the GOP needs to present a more ideological, less compromising candidate, and that essentially means doubling down on the party’s message over the past few years -- the same message that has cost Republicans presidential races and Senate seats.

This is certainly conventional wisdom in Washington, DC, and has been for decades. But past results, while not necessarily indicative of future performance, completely belie Rothenberg's claim.

More ideological/less compromising nominees
Reagan 84
Reagan 80
W 04
Bush 88
W 2000

Less ideological/more compromising nominees
Bush 92
Dole 96
McCain 08
Romney 12
Ford 76

Res ipsa loquitur. In the past 40 years, it looks like the GOP only won when they did the opposite of what you want them to do, Stu.

Posted by Evan @ 05/14/13 01:16 PM

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