The same people who espouse Reaganism have forgotten he wasn't a conservative governor in California, he had to govern according to the state, which was already leaning liberal. Once he was President he governed according to the country as a whole and was more conservative.
That's a very good way of explaining things. It's an interesting dilemma that both Rudy and Mitt faced. The question is do we demand purity in those blue state and just give up or do we accept a bit of the RINO to try to break down blue state stereotypes about Republicans? I hate the thought of giving up. I confess that I celebrated when Rudy won NY and also rejoiced when Mitt won Massachusetts.