I think there’s real truth to the notion that Horowitz proposes. The GOP, the Republican establishment, desperately wants to switch their base. The merely tolerate - if not despise - the social conservative and religious conservative wing of their party.
Romney did everything he could do to spit in the face of social conservatives, and actively campaigned for pro-gay, quasi-gun, revenue “enhancing”, democrats and independents.
They want a “budget balancing” coalition that excludes those who want traditional values. They’d give their “right” arm (so to speak) to get it. And then they could actually kick us to the curb instead of having to be sly about to whom they’re trying to appeal.
And Romney had rules changes enacted that puts the RinoGop fully in charge of the process.
In short, the GOP wants to be Democrats who like to balance their checkbook. That’s it.