Bingo. The mushy middle are not moderates, they are people with no well-thought out position and could be persuaded to go far right or far left, depending on circumstances and who makes the case best. Is the GOP making a strong case for conservatism?
Unfortunatly, it seems the GOP is deliberately going out of it's way to avoid being accused of conservatism. I concur with your analysis - it seems the GOP's domestic strategy is more allied to that of a chameleon that that of a lion these days.