Archive for May 7, 2008

The Mike Huckabee Effect

The conservative wing of the Republican party: divided they fell. And Mike Huckabee is to blame.

Mike Huckabee is just about everything that is wrong with American politics: the conflation of church and state, the deference to religion and ideology over logic, and the suspicion of facts. All in one package. But his effect on the Republican primary process – and the continuing repercussions that his candidacy has had on the John McCain campaign – might constitute a blessing in disguise for Democrats. Namely, Huckabee, by splitting the evangelical vote, prevented an evangelical/Bush-style Republican from winning the nomination, with the result that a disaffected wing of the Republican party still feels the need to cast protest ballots against McCain, in every primary in which he appears.

Let’s pause and reflect on the Republican primary (ed. note: I pull all my numbers from here). Continue reading »