Good points made but I disagree...divisive candidates may win PRIMARIES...but not the presidential vote.....and Romney was definitely divisive.....remember the 47%?.....Plus Romney moved too far right after being a liberal all his life....McCain lost because he undercut himself by criticizing Obama for being a rookie and then he himself picks a rookie in Palin...a DUMB rookie at that
look at elections in past 30 years...
Reagan? conservative, and he dominated.
Bush1 was a conservative, and would have won twice without Perot mucking it up.
Clinton, with all his whoring around? Very liberal, and won twice.
Bush2? He was a religious alternative the base loved, won twice.
Obama is the #1 liberal senator, won twice.
Mccain, moderate. Romney, moderate. John Kerry, a chickenhawk dem (middle of road).