Ronald Reagan believed in the big tent party...it is his quote I’m mangling...better to have someone who votes with you 75% of the time than 0% of the time...he would not support losing elections on purpose by fielding unelectable candidates.
Ronald Reagan "A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers."
From his "Let Them Go Their Way" speech. You might want to read it sometime.