algore did the exact same thing in 88 when he ran for POTUS. He abandoned most every position that he ever espoused previously - all in order to get the nomination in the more liberal states.
This is one of the reasons that I admire Ron Paul so much. While I don't agree with all of his stands, he doesn't back down, he doesn't reverse himself, and he doesn't bend with the prevailing winds no matter how unpopular his views make him.