First let me say that I have not yet read those links, but I will say this.
With the exception of Goldwater, every time since Eisenhower that the GOP has run a crook/lunatic they have won and any GOP candidate with a shred of decency has lost.
Nixon won. Ford lost.
Reagan Won. GW Bush lost (granted he won first, but that was a fluke)
W Bush sort of won.
MCain Lost.
Romney Lost.
'Nuff said there.
Trump won (sort of, again)
The GOP only really gets behind crooked, racist, fascist types.