McCain actually said he had "conservative" support? Is Mccain trying to re-define conservative? Outside of a few RINO's and the press...and his own solitary state...McCain has no support. The conservative base universally despises the man.
McCain has a weird version of himself.
If you remember him in 2000, and since then, he really (in his own warped mind) thinks of himself a Ronald Reagan/Barry Goldwater conservative.
At times he even seems puzzled (this should have tipped people off that something is wrong with him) when he's referred to as moderate or centerist. He thinks he's very conservative.
He's not, his voting record is alright, but not in anywhere hard right territory that he thinks he's in.
The only time he is ever in the solid right, is on the issues of spending (pork barrel wise) and abortion.