A lot of Republicans see virtue in losing. The one-issue crowd in NY gave us Hillary -- with a choice between Lazio (for women's rights amongst other things) or Hillary the one-issue crowd threw their hands up in the air proclaimed that there was no difference between the two candidates, stayed at home, Hillary won and now there's a Democratic majority.
If the one-issue crowd had actually decided to vote for Lazio instead of finding virture in defeat, we'd still have a senate majority and be dealing with lots of other issues beyond the scope of the one-issue crowd (such as ANWAR driling and such).
The one-issue crowd causes so much damage.