Mitt Romney’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference today was a step in the right direction for the candidate on many levels. He tacitly acknowledged that he wasn’t steeped in conservative ideology at the same time he paid homage to it, noting that growing up he would have mistaken Burke and Hayek for members of the Detroit Tigers lineup. He all but micturated on the grave of compassionate conservatism by proclaiming that he was a “severely conservative” governor of Massachussetts. (The crowd liked it a lot, though the jury’s still out on whether the record matches the rhetoric.) He spoke convincingly about family values, drawing on his experience being married 42(!) years and raising five boys. He told at least one surprisingly good joke—”I served in government, but I didn’t inhale.” And he got a standing ovation when he proclaimed he was he was not ashamed of his business success.

Perhaps most importantly, he spoke reassuringly to the crowd about the policy positions where he’s evolved over the years. He spoke about the need to protect religious liberty at length, and detailed the specific policies he would pursue to serve as a pro-life president, promising to reinstate the Mexico City policy and cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood. He didn’t mince words on heathcare reform, promising to unequivocally to “eliminate Obamacare.”