I would go that it is the mindset of the Republicans that because of the teabaggers and other wackos who were in office before the teabaggers arrived they feel they need to be more conservative.
It is ludicrous that the likes of Santorum and others that feel that their nominee wasn't conservative enough. And the reason they lost. Really? Romney was more conservative than Obama. How would having someone more conservative help them win? As long as they think that way so much the better for us.
As long as Republicans fail to use any semblance of logic they will be ruled by the likes of the teabaggers. Because it is a primary system consisting of a smaller pool of voters that make that decision it makes it easier for teabaggers to help determine the outcome. Here in Indiana soon to be former Senator Lugar was ousted in the primary. He should had been the primary winner. Teabagger Mourdock won the primary and he had major support among the county parties. County Republican leaders provided that support through their endorsements.
If we want to win more elections we need to put it out there that when good policies (ours) are enacted their lives are better. We need to stress that when Republicans have control of the government they suffer the consequences.