...and “traditional NE Republicans” are RINOs.
A RINO is someone who is not nor ever was a Republican but who is usually solicited by Republicans to run under their label for the purpose of winning an election ~ and thereby obtaining control of the legislative agenda.
The NE Republicans ~ typified by Richard Milhouse Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, George Pataki, etc. were always affiliated with Regular Republicans, and Souvrn' Republicans in the Republican caucus.
Getting rid of real RINOs is of value when we have a Republican who can win. Getting rid of NE Republicans simply PO's the NE Republicans who usually vote for them ~ not that it drives them into the arms of the Democrats, but they don't show up to vote.
We've seen this with Conservatives when the NE Republicans, and the Countryclubbers abuse them ~ they just don't vote, and we all lose.
It's not likely a Souvrn' or Regular Republican can be found to run for office in Delaware ~ and win ~ but they have a NE Republican who has demonstrated that he can win statewide elections (several times).
Frankly, I don't support him but Delaware has a demonstrably erratic, bizarre even, electoral track record. They seem not be concerned with the quality of their Senators ~ any "hack" will do as far as they're concerned.
O'Donnell can probably win in Delaware this year, and so can the NE Republican she's running against. If I were a resident and running for Senate, I think I might win ~ THIS YEAR ~ but maybe not some other year.
The electorate is very angry.
The Republican party bosses in Delaware are in error if they imagine that putting either one of these people in the Senate seat will yield any greater advantages to the state ~ neither one will have Senate seniority.
He was a NE Republican (remembering that he ran from New York, not California at the time, and all his buddies were there).
Again, the Republican party is a coalition. Not everybody can be from Texas (nor would they want be ~ gaaack, hairball).
Politicians do what they can to get elected everywhere.