He may lean conservative, but he is following in the footsteps of GHW Bush & Bob Dole--trying to build a GOP coalition that ignores core values.
That's a tactic for getting elected, but it works against actually accomplishing anything once you get elected (of course, Dole proved it's not even a good strategy for getting elected).
I thought the Big Tent Republican idea was dead, but apparently (like a zombie) it won't stay buried, despiete the fact that it is rotten and stinks.