Posted by
Jason Mitchell on Friday, December 21, 2007 9:42:56 AM
The GOP has always had its factions, the fusion of which was embodied by Ronald Reagan. The combination of military strength, fiscal and social conservatism that form the wings of the modern GOP. The problem in 2008 is that each of these wings now has their own candidate, and no one has a lock on branching out to the whole party.
Religious Right- some Romney, rapidly shifting to Huckabee.
Neoconservatives- Some overlap with the religious right, mostly going with Giuliani, although some going with Romney, McCain, Thompson, and Duncan Hunter in that order.
Social conservatives- Huckabee, Thompson, and Romney
Fiscal conservatives- This one is hard to tell. It depends on the depth of peoples belief in fiscal conservatism. All the candidates have paid the nessisary lip service to 'cutting taxes' and 'fiscal discipline', but Ron Paul has talked about eliminating the Dept of education and the IRS, so he gets special mention.
Security Oriented- Giuliani, McCain, Hunter, Thompson
States' Rights Oriented- Ron Paul and Fred Thompson, have been the only to to put any emphasis on states rights aside from using it to dodge questions about gun control or abortion.
Paleoconservatives- Ron Paul.
Moderates- McCain, Huckabee
Log Cabin Republicans- Giuliani, maybe some Ron Paul.
Liberals- There aren't too many of these left in the party. Spending wise, 'Compassionate Conservative' Mike Huckabee.
Libertarians- Ron Paul, some Rudy Giuliani.
I see this election as being won by the faction who want it bad enough rather than by any particular candidate. Most of the polling is just name recognition, and a big snowstorm in Iowa and New Hampshire could lose the contest for someone if people who arent fervent enough about their choice stay home.
Thats my take.