Wrong! Conservatives will stay home because they will have no candidate to support. Or they will vote 3rd party if a conservative runs, not to teach anybody a lesson but because in choosing between McCain and Hillary!, there is no lesser of the evils. Both are evil and only one of them is sane.
I definitely will not vote for McCain in the Republican primary election. I will not stay home during the General election. I would vote for a rabid dog before voting for broom jockey Hillary. So, if that means a vote for McCain in the General, that's what will happen.