Or maybe he realized that there was a lot more votes in being the "guy who shot Osama bin Laden in the face" than in being the "guy who will rein in the NSA." It's basically the same phenomenon that's playing out now with the Republican primary. Talking about cracking down on the NSA will get you some Democratic primary votes, and probably won't lose you any, just like talking about cracking down on illegal immigration will win you Republican primary votes and probably won't lose you any. But come the general election, you're going to have to moderate your position to appeal to the mushy middle.