Yeah, I know. It's fighting the naysayers that say "he's only a Rep. and not as well known". He's got plenty of experience and all he really does need is the GOP nomination.
That's what the “Rockefeller Republicans” who are firmly in charge of the party establishment right now want people to think. We can expect them to push that crap hard and we can expect people to believe it.
In 1972, 1976 and 1980, the establishment said Reagan was too conservative to win the general. We finally prevailed in 1980 and got him nominated and he won in two landslides.