Actually, the GOP managed to do that pretty successfully in Florida in 2000, and Florida and Ohio in 2006. I suspect that they had even more ambitious plans for 2008, but got tripped up by the US Attorney firings investigation.

But in general, I have to agree with Newt, the GOP has an uphill battle. Although I would like to point out that the Democrats aren't doing themselves any favors when they sign on to things like the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment, resolutions to condemn ads by a group that's one of their biggest supporters, and legislation that expands the WH's warrantless wiretapping powers. It just makes them look weak and wimpy and perhaps not so attractive to voters (except as the only real alternative to downright unattractive).