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The opposite is true ~ you need to go after THOSE WITHIN who I believe he tagged as "more extreme elements" . The reason is if they don't show up you don't win because you cannot make up for their absence with nearly non-existent independents or, yeccchhh, moderates!

So then, would you agree with the statement: “In striving to make the party appeal to everyone, the party can only succeed in appealing to no-one; by standing for nothing it only attracts those who will fall for anything.”

The party must first appeal to virtually all its coalition partners in some serious way before engaging in the general election. That means the candidates must be acceptable ~ if a candidate is not acceptable to one or more of your larger identifiable coalition partners, you will lose.

You do not need to appeal to anyone outside your coalition partners ~ the reason is that among politically motivated folks, who can be expected to vote, they are NOT going to switch and vote for the other guy.

Your best source of new voters is among the 90 million adults who don't vote. Your worst source of new voters is among the other major coalition party's members.

The italicized statement you posted would not be a way to win elections because, as it turns out, when you stand for nothing, appeal to no one, and imagine you can win anything, you will be amazed every time you try it! We won't be amazed however.