...They understand it is more important to keep your own base than to try and convince the other side that you are really one of them.
Sounds like conflicted reasoning.
Anyway...
Santorum got Dem votes to win PA, against Dem incumbents. 3 Times. He campaigns outside the box.
It doesn’t sound like conflicted reasoning if you actually read the post.
In the first sentence, I am discussing what signal that a Romney victory will send. (Not that I agree with the signal, but when Romney wins the GOP elites will say, “See, the Tea Party will fall in line, we can safely tack to the left and go for the Moderate / progressive vote”.
Then my second sentence points out that the Democrats pursue a different strategy and win by catering to their base, and not abandoning it in a general election, as we’re about to experience for the second election in a row.
In reality, I believe the signal that will be sent on election day, is that when you ignore and demoralize the conservative base, their turnout drops by 5-10% and the Republicans lose to the most flawed candidate the Dems have ever nominated.