What happens to the GOP if Cruz turns out to be Goldwater 2.0?

[DS0816]

What happens to the GOP if Cruz turns out to be Goldwater 2.0? He gets (though still unlikely) the 2016 nomination over The Trump and Rubio and loses the general election to Hillary by a disastrous margin. He also takes down many congressional Republicans. Dems pick up OH, IL, PA, WI, FL, NH and AZ (after McCain lost his primary) in the Senate. GOP also loses the House narrowly: 223-212.

Will the establishment and the moderates take back the party in a “we told you so” campaign from the Tea Party and other right-wingers?

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY)/HUD Secretary Julian Castro (D-TX): 385 EV. (53.8%)
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)/Former Representative Michelle Bachmann (R-MN): 153 EV. (45.7%)

That electoral-vote score, from your Scenario Map, is not on par with a 1964 Barry Goldwater.

That's actually a respectable result.

[DS0816]

Here's a more Goldwater-esque result:

406: Fmr. SoS. Hillary Clinton(D-NY)/Sen. Joseph Manchin(D-WV) - 54.6%
132: Sen. Rafael Cruz(R-TX)/Rep. Louie Gohmert(R-SC) - 44.2%

Heck, Utah and Colorado won't be that far apart in PV.
Other: 1.2%

No.

Colorado is now a critical bellwether state—with percentage margins close to the U.S. Popular Vote.

The map should show between 40 to 44 states carried. And that would include states which do not ordinarily carry for the party.

The one thing with a 1964 Barry Goldwater is this: He lost 25 of the 26 states which carried for his party’s losing presidential nominee from the previous election cycle, Richard Nixon.

Be daring: Give the likes of Idaho, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming to the Democrat.