“... we don’t have time to worry about a seat that we can win this year.”
I wrestle with this problem myself, but I believe that your course is the correct one because a RINO is a little closer to what is needed than a RAT. And as you point out regaining a lost seat can take a very long time. All that said, good on Sasse, Capito and the 17 year-old in WVA who won Tuesday. The real problem is with the vast majority of those who call themselves Republicans but continue to return the likes or Cornyn and Graham to office. It isn’t the candidates as much as it’s the moronic GOP voters. These people who are going to teach us all a lesson and stay home are the ones that are reprehensible. And right after an election, they are back to braying about just how awful things are.
It is not great having to hold me nose. I have done it numerous times. However, I am looking at big picture where we get committees and other beanies for being in charge. Plus the Dems only need 17 seats to take after the House....why make it easy for them. The Senate is a must and I don’t care how we get it. We must have it for committee, bills and other things. We always want to screw ourselves. Anytime we get arrogant we lose.