The smartest thing conservatives pols could do is renounce the GOP, go indy and then watch the flood of support. Because even before the current mess even happened, there were plenty of people willing to support cnservative candidates but would not tough anyone on the GOP ticket.
We mow see what they saw. A fraudulent party in touch with itself and the left.
The RINOs will never vote Cruz. The liberals (but I repeat myself) will never vote Cruz. But plenty of folks would if he didn’t come with the GOP strings attached. Not that he will play ball with their BS, because he won’t. But the party is an albatross. The Dems marginalized it unfairly and then the lesser evil crowd took command and ensured it was filled with non conservatives pols that believe in nothing we do. They fulfilled the Dem prophecy.
There are perhaps 10 people in the GOP worth voting for. That we can trust to most often do the right thing. They need to leave. We will vote for them in or out of the party because they share our values. More would join us if they left than if they stay.
By using your logic, the Democratic Party should go 3rd party.
Think that is going to happen?
Your plan will elect Hillary (like it did Bill, twice).