Republicans would have won if they didn't pick a total clown for candidate

This article says that the Republicans would have won if they didn't pick a total clown for candidate. Is that right? Why would the Republicans deliberately sabotage their chances?

"A sharply worded editorial in The Washington Post on Sunday argued that the only consistency in the Romney campaign had been the candidate's contempt for the electorate. But that he went so close to becoming president reveals more than we might have expected about the people and politics of the global superpower.

One of the contenders for the GOP nomination who fell by the way was former Pennsylvania senator and holy roller Rick Santorum, who warned that Romney was the "worst Republican" for the party to stand against Obama. If it's all about winning then Rick, it seems, was right."

[link to www.smh.com.au]