Would you call Bush 41 and 43 extreme conservatives?
I don't know if I would call it republican strategy, but yes, it has worked, embracing the middle to some degree pays off in winning elections. Obamanation is an extreme liberal.
McCain is certainly in the middle or left on many things.
But there is also some conservative meat there too. You have to look for it though the liberal gristle perhaps. I think he can beat B. Hussien.
They were not Senators, but had actual gov't executive experience.