I don't have a dog in this fight, but...

[Lamplighter]

They're looking for someone who is the *most* Republican,
or the most (fill in the important issue here) of all the candidates.
The result is you hear the candidates *competing* to be more _____ than the next one.
This results in a "I'll see your position, and raise you" race to the far end
of the spectrum in a race to be the most appealing.
"I know you are, but I'm MORE." A race to the extreme.

V's comment above is true. And for Perry, it is business as usual.
In Texas, the candidates traditionally vie for who
is the "most Conservative", regardless of party affiliation.
Romney doesn't have a clue how this works, so his numbers stay constant.

But the thing that is really different this time around is the parties have reversed themselves.
Usually, it's the Democrats beating up on one another in the primaries,
and then have to suddenly realign for the general election.
The Republicans usually fall right into formation with the candidate
based on who is next in line (a la Romney).
I think McCain was the exception, and look where that got them.

If the Republicans are not successful this time, the Roves, Rollins, Norquists,
and McConnolls will squash the Tea Party and their ilk for generations to come.