Look at all the Cruzers wishing ill will on Trump in the general. They really do prefer Hillary to Trump. How principled and conservative of them.
By empirical proof, the GOP (to which Ted, et al have signed on) doesn’t care about winning. They are far more comfortable with second-tier power than the work it takes to lead effectively. They just want that power and money the Democrats will cede them for being “fealty lords” in the realm of the Democrat Kingdom. Petty criminals, IOW.