But it's not just that.
Elections are not just about winning - they are also about changing the minds of the voters.
And it takes time, and patience.
It took 16 years to go from Goldwater to Reagan.
The harmful effects of running a RINO go beyond losing - it alters the terms of the public debate - to the Left.
It changes the perception of non political junkies as to what constitutes respectable opinion.
And, of course, it discourages a lot of good people from becoming active in the first place.
It's true, for example, that if a Republican acceptable to us ran for the Senate from Maine next time, the seat would be lost.
But the major reason it would be lost is that Maine voters have never heard from Susan Collins why they should vote for a Republican.
It will take time to take back the country by voting.
But to start, good candidates have to run - and lose.