The understand Conservatives perfectly, they just don't like them very much. All those gun loving Bible thumping red necks just don't fit into their world very well. They want you to vote for them, but they don't want you to get uppity, and think that you can cross the tracks.
Do not buy the Democrat's "Urban Legend" about the "Republican" religious conservatives. The Bible Belt and the South within memory of living man used to be solid Democrat Territory.
These people did not turn Republican. They were driven into the Republican Party.
Yea, that reminds me of how GWB sent a low-level functionary to represent him at the funeral of Jerry Falwell, who did a lot for the Bushes over the years. Ingratitude is the Bush co-word.