What is the most important factor for the 2016 GOP Primaries

[CountryClassSF]

The GOP's problem is that they can't define your first option and then as usual, they use the line of "wasn't conservative enough" when it blows up in their faces.

When data shows that the turnout enthusiasm gap was on the conservative side, yes we do. Because Republicans have thrown 75% of their core voters overboard with embracing gay agenda, amnesty, and they never talk about sanctity of life anymore.

That's two coalitions. They're also abandoning the neoconservative coalition too.  You can't win an election by being "the better choice when it comes down to it"

And also, aside from RINO vs conservative, moderate candidates tend to be so cautious in their approach and stick to the same script that its very easy for them to be portrayed as flip floppers in the media. In the case of 2012, Mitt Romney fit the bill of a flip flopper.

Doesn't it shock anybody else that this is probably the worst President we had in our lifetime, and the best we can do is Juan Pablo McCain and Mitt MassCare Romney? I mean REALLY?

[IceSpear]

Christie is basically a liberal Democrat

http://www.ontheissues.org/images/s040_040.gif

That's a liberal Democrat? Interesting. Christie is a centrist by American standards and an archconservative by worldwide standards.

We were told that Mitt Romney was the only electable candidate in 2012, and he lost in a landslide because conservatives didn't show up to vote for him.

This is a debunked assertion based on the incomplete election returns showing McCain getting more votes than Romney. The base did turn out for Romney, the problem is the base is no longer enough to win. Considering it was BARELY enough to win in 2004, it was pretty obvious that was coming.

[Mordecai]

Real conservatives are very ambitious and love to run in primaries. But that way we end up splitting the vote. The RINOs almost always automatically take 33% or so of the Republican electorate who will vote for the most RINO candidate possible.  These are the types that equate moderatism with electability, something that isn't true with Republican presidents in recent history.

This candidate is usually supported by elites and the donors. They are able to squeak over the finish line because the rest of us can't get our act together. The ONLY time real conservatives have won, such as Reagan, is when we united against the RINO candidate.

Christie is basically a liberal Democrat, and quite frankly, I am done with the RINOs.  I will stay home if a conservative is not nominated at this time, because I see no difference between the Republicrats and the Demicans anymore, it's AMERICA vs liberal one party oligarchy!!!

Look what's going on in Virginia. GOP elite want the Cuccinelli loss, that's why they starved him of donations against Moneybag McAuliffe.  They are salivating over the potential "Moderate, pragmatic people's man Christie wins big while right wing Christian Cuccinelli loses"

The RINOs control all the purse strings.  But we don't have to vote for them anymore just because they have an R after their name!

No true Scotsman, eh? If a "RINO" ends up taking 33% of the Republican electorate (who, according to you, will always vote for the most "RINO" candidate possible) then they're not a RINO at all.

And what makes Christie a "liberal" or a Democrat, other than your say so?

[TomC]

Part of me wants to say whomever can be seen as somewhat of both. I think Ryan and maybe Bush fit that mold best. Maybe Huckabee if he jumps in.

The tea party may be the loudest and have an advantage in many primaries, but the establishment still rules, as evidnced by Romney and McCain's nominations.

But part of me wants to say it relates to personality as well. If moderate/establishment Romney can win the nomination, surely CHristie who is much more interesting can. Though Christie will likely have tougher challengers than Santorum, Cain, and Gingrich were.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Whoever can raise the most early money.  That's why Wikigate dooms Paul's chances for 2016.  By the time he can escape its shadow, the early money he might have been able to raise will have already been largely snatched by others with similar views.