Some pundits have predicted that this year's Republican primary presages a fundamental split between evangelical conservatives and the party's more traditional strong defense, limited government wing.
I don't know whether there's an actual split, but there's no question there's a divide — and the latest evidence comes from SlateCard.com, which had a booth at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference: The issues John McCain's supporters said were driving them to support him were almost entirely different from the set of issues driving supporters to Mike Huckabee.
For McCain, the top four issues were related to security, cutting spending and being able to beat Hillary Clinton. Those accounted for about three-fourths of the 151 votes McCain got.
For Huckabee, the top four issues were entirely different: "Faith and values," the economy, the Fair Tax and pro-life causes accounted for about three-fourths of his 92 votes.
The fact that there was no overlap raises the question of what Huckabee voters do when McCain locks up the nomination, as he almost certainly will do now with Mitt Romney's delegates supporting him.
We wondered earlier this week (and you all responded enthusiastically) what would happen with Rep. Ron Paul's voters in the general election. Do Huckabee's voters face the same choice?
Paul got 46 votes in SlateCard's poll, and there was some overlap with the issues driving both McCain's and Huckabee's supporters. His top four issues were cutting pork, the economy, securing the borders and national security.
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (2)
Very interesting post. The latest information on website traffic is interesting, too. You can see it in graph form at:
"Give Hope Another Chance"
www.mike-huckabee.blogspot.com
Posted by John Morris | February 15, 2008 1:31 PM
Been writing lots of commentary. On current demise of the GOP. And their slow death
Below Is One Of Them: "GOP Eulogy--Lost At Sea", Writer, Rev Ronnie Roy Sr.
So true, hard it is. To keep afloat a ship. During gale storm winds on high seas. So true hard also! To keep afloat, a sinking political party. During perilous time of mutinous mutiny. On torrential high stake political waters.
Poor ole full of integrity, highest of high morals, honorables Lincoln, Nixon & Reagan. Must be looking down in utter, grievous disgust of apathy. At present day GOP's sunken, lost at sea political ship. Void a skillful sea worthy captain, absent a forward rudder of knowledge to guide it, drifting aimlessly listless on shredded compromised sails, amiss quality deck hands to keep it afloat. For ten years now.
Forever now lost at sea, beyond public's redemptive resurrection. Left to float in it's own perpetual mire of corruption's long lost, immoral abyss. Never to sail again! And is only fitting! It's mandated absolute. That a flagship of any sort. Must have a sea worthy, skilled, able captain. To guide and direct it to destiny's port of entry. With equal moral fiber fortitude. To safeguard flagship mates and cargo. Or else you'll sail off course, ending up at wrong port of entry! Or drift aimlessly till it sinks. Or face mutiny on the high seas, during time of peril.
And low and behold! The Grand Ole Party Flagship suffered all three perils, over the last ten years. First by leaving port in 1996. Throwing high intellect, skilled, able, and highly moral principled Pat Buckhannon overboard. Then left port in 2000, with the most dufus of morons, GW Bush at rein of command. Then astoundingly left port once again in 2004. With same nil of intellect, moron GW Bush, still at the helm! And now in 2008, have thrown true conservative golden sheep Allen Keyes and Mike Huckabee overboard also. To make room on board for corruptible wolves, dressed in sheep's clothing McCain and Romney! Inciting other sheepfold sheep on board, to jump ship. And re-board as wolves in sheep's clothing. Overweighting their flagship, sinking it at sea. Unknowing, both true wolves and wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. Weigh far more and are costlier to have on board. Than light weight, light of truth coated sheep.
Thus the Grand Ole Party Flagship is now lost at sea! Drifting in aimless abyss, mutiny running amuck on board. Sheep being thrown overboard, as wolves and mutineers now board in mass. Precariously over weighting flagship. Till it finally sinks, in fall of 2008's final graveyard of resting place. To be recorded and etched in history. As another long lost forgotten political party of the past, such as the Whigs.
What a story for the history books! Yes poor ole Lincoln, Nixon, and Reagan. Must be shaking their fingers from heaven. At these latter day GOP cross dressing wolves, and mutinous mutineers of moral standards, integrity, and honor.
"Truth", Author Rev Ronnie Roy Sr.
Final so true, one reaps what they sow
Destiny assures, one gets what they're owed
History is true, and records all it knows
Opportunity lost, can't redeem what it blows
Rev Ronnie Roy Sr.: Free Lance Writer/Poet Preacher: Messiah Ministries messiahnc@yahoo.com
Chairman: "We For Huckabee" natl grassroots org
Posted by Rev Ronnie Roy Sr. | February 16, 2008 1:14 AM