His base isn't in the Republican party. It's in the media. He's doing what he's doing to win them back after alienating them by backing Bush on several things the last 2 years. If he has any hope of winning the Presidency he has to have them firmly behind him. He can try to con the Republicans into nominating him once he has the press on his side and shilling for him.
He thinks he can use the fear of Hillary to scare GOP voters into nominating him.
I have begun to wonder if his goal is not third party. Nothing else makes sense!
He must know by now the we, the base, hate him passionately and without us he will never get the nomination so why go through all this unless his play is VP for Hillary or a third party play.
Right on the money that is McCain (McEgo) down to a tee