You are absolutely wrong in your conclusion that we always lose with moderates. I am not making a case for moderates; I am making a case to vote a straight Republican ticket.
If you think I do not know what I'm talking about study Ronald Reagan's strategy to become president. I recall his son, Michael, telling that his dad understood the only way for Reagan to prevail in his quest to become president was to enlist the support of the "moderates". Reagan went to the moderates--first, to get them on board. We know the rest of the story. He got the big picture and we will not advance our strategy looking through the wrong end of the telescope.
The truth is we need every vote.
FWIW, I live in Iowa and I can tell you that many of the Iowa conservatives believe that to not support Huckabee is anti-Christian. They believe everyone else is a RINO compared to Huckabee. See what we are up against. We're a team. Fight it out in the primaries and then vote straight Republican after that. Our goal is to defeat Democrats--not each other.
Ignorance of reality is no excuse. Even if we win the seat, we can't count on the votes. As with Snowe and McCain. "Maverick" my left eye. They are TURNCOATS who have no principles.
Reagan won the moderates not by moving to the Center, as you are advocating, but by moving the Center. Which is what the Tea Party is doing.