I suspect Ron Johnson would have won just about anywhere he ran. Knocking off Feingold was just one amazing feat. The man was "on message" all the time and he came across as very successful individual that would be totally sincere and consistent no matter what setting you'd project him into. No messiness in his track record. Not a "big shot" or a seeker of fame and glory on a power trip. And not shallow or shaky in ANY way. Salt of the earth. Genuine articles. Easy to see as a public servant who will return to the real world (whether it be business, or law, or education, or law enforcement, or military, etc) after a while in politics. People who are more "achievers" than "talkers", because we love and admire success stories.

Let the Democrats put forth their policy wonks and career political types, and people beholden to some special interest group(s). Those kinds of profiles are going to be sitting ducks for the foreseeable future.

The Conservative Populist Movement must not offer up candidates who are in the least way "kooky" or opportunistic or with a egotistical agenda. And no privileged people who haven't made a mark on their own. Because the opposition will jump all over those things and probably succeed in attaching that image to the candidate in an indelible way.

Which is why, unless something along the lines of Barnett's Federalism Amendment is brought in Real Soon Now, I'm not terribly hopeful for the country.

Would Castle had been in a better position to win to start with?

Of course he would have as he's been a professional politician for a long while but that was no guarantee of him winning. Because we all know according to the logic that we hear repeated over and over that these states like Delaware are more liberal so if we accept that which I do not then the corollary is they will vote for the Democrat before the Republican. You can't have the one point without that corollary point as well.

Christine O'Donnell despite her flaws was willing to run and she won her primary so you either support her or you don't but trying to make her the BoggyWoman to why other candidates didn't win is wrong.

Whose fault is it that the local GOP outfits are so weak?

If you concede territory to your political opposition because it is harder to win then it comes as no shock that your influence wanes. If you become more like your political opposition to win elections then it should come as no shock that eventually people will not really be able to tell the difference between you and your political opposition and stop showing up in disgust.

The Media will always try to magnify anything they can find except for Democrats who can be crooks and be elected so trying to find these saintly people to run for office is idiotic and pointless. Trying to find some political genius who will handle everything perfectly so they never look bad is also pointless.

I just see people (Lindsey Graham and Trent Lott) trying to set up a narrative they can put in peoples mind now so in 2 years and 4 years they can use it to stay in power.

When is the best time to fight that narrative?

It is right now not after it has time to set up and solidify.