I agree that the long season of fundraising and primaries has some impact but it's not our biggest problem. The Republicans keep getting weaker conservative candidates because we allow other than Republicans to choose our candidates. In 2008, only 25% of Republicans chose John McCain, and yet he became the nominee. If only Republicans were allowed to choose our candidates, we would have much more conservative candidates, of the Ronald Reagan type, and our chances would be much greater, in my opinion. In some states, even Democrats are allowed to vote in the Republican primary. How does it make any sense for us to allow Democrats and Independents and Unaffiliateds to choose the Republican nominee. This is especially true in Presidential primaries but I'm sure it plays out in other races as well.