article_snippet: Even as the Republican Party has shifted to the right in recent decades, Republican candidates who have obtained the nomination, and those who have also won the presidency, always developed campaign themes that allowed Republican candidates who have obtained the nomination, and those who have also won the presidency to appeal to broader coalitions than voters on the extremes.
article_snippet: Even Republicans who didn't win in the general elections, like John McCain and Mitt Romney, did not win the primary and caucus tallies by only playing to the base.
article_snippet: Notwithstanding the conventional wisdom, even in primaries it seems that Republican voters understand the importance of finding someone who has the potential to win in November.
highlights_snippet: Contrary to conventional wisdom, GOP primary voters are more interested in victory than ideology, Ted Cruz says .