THIS is a big part of the problem. Sometime along the way Repub voters got it in their head that "owning the libs" was THE only thing that mattered. Not sure if it was bc of the Fox news, RW radio/web propaganda or if it was when the black guy won. (or a bit of both)
Everything from "economic anxiety" to "egg prices high" was just strategically deployed bullshit that centrists--who are allergic to the notion that conservatives have agency--gobbled up hand over fist. Owning The Libz has always been the prime objective. Doesn't matter if the rest is incoherent.