You are absolutely right. McConnell will do WHATEVER he has to to protect his precious senate. It’s been the bulwark against conservative victories for years (witness John McCain and Lisa Murkowski).
If the rabble-rousers get more footholds in the senate, he and his ilk are doomed. All they have are money for ads, that’s it. If they don’t work, then they’re out of bullets, and their only hope is to help the democrat.
Back the the Tea Party first elected some Senators and House members, McConnell announced they must marginalize those guy before they get here.