Sorry, but I can't see when McLame was conservative.
Used Daddy's influence to get into college (Naval Academy) and then barely passed.
Incompetent in career, but protected by daddy's name.
Commie collaborator while a POW.
Blocked declassification of records to keep his collaboration a secret.
Rode his "war record" to get into Congress
Silences conservative critics
Lied, cheated, and stole while in office.
Left his wife to shack up with a newer model.
Sorry, I can't see where he was EVER a conservative.
He was very good at "playing" a conservative every six years, to get re-elected!
The conservative-liberal axis (or spectrum) is not where we should look to locate McCain. Rather than Liberal or Conservative he was... an egomaniac. And he played to whatever policies or actions boosted his self-image and furthered his ambitions.