Thomas Schaller: The Republicans' Accountability Moment

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from The American Prospect:



The Republicans' Accountability Moment

Huckabee's win is a testament to his personal charm and strong evangelical support. It's also a clear signal to the Republican Party that their internal divisions are not going away.

Thomas F. Schaller | January 4, 2008 | web only



The Republican Party had an accountability moment last night in Iowa.

Following two generations of ever-widening clout by Christian conservatives, last night's convincing victory by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee provided a warning to the establishment wing of the national Republican Party that it may no longer be able to pass off its preferred candidates to the party's most loyal supporters. In this largely-white, rural heartland state, where insurgent conservative candidates of the past have done well but usually finish second, Huckabee's evangelical-led, 34 percent to 25 percent Bible-thumping of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sends to national party leaders a powerful signal that evangelical votes cannot be taken for granted.

"I never thought I'd be able to say I love a state as much as I love my home state of Arkansas, but tonight I love Iowa," Huckabee told his cheering supporters at a victory celebration in a ballroom at the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines. "A new day is needed in American politics just like a new day is needed in American government. Tonight it starts here, in Iowa, but it doesn't end here. It goes through all the other states and ends at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

Huckabee's win proves that, at least in a low-turnout caucus event in traditionalist state, a resource-deficient but likable social conservative can defeat a well-funded corporate Republican with a dubious record on important partisan litmus issues. Though some of Huckabee's victory is surely attributable to his unconventional campaign tactics and self-effacing charms -- his release in late autumn of a disarmingly funny television ad featuring action film star Chuck Norris brought national attention to his campaign -- personality alone cannot explain his victory. And although three of the other five top-tier contenders were effectively eyeing other upcoming states on the primary calendar -- John McCain, New Hampshire; Fred Thompson, South Carolina; and Rudy Giuliani, Florida -- even in what was effectively reduced to a two-man race with Romney, Huckabee's win is significant because of its 9-point margin. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_republicans_accountability_moment