[ansel12]

What he will do is alienate the constitutional conservative, social libertarian, anti bible-belt-bigot part of the party.

Gee, we lose the liberal/democrat/anti-Christian vote, big deal.

[stillonaroll]

It's intriguing that those numbers have stayed so consistent in recent elections: the most reliable conservative voting bloc are Bible-thumping Christians, while the most reliable liberal voting bloc are atheists.

Whoever gets the 2012 GOP nod needs to motivate the conservative base, while peeling off just enough of the independents who voted 0bama in 2008. The need not concern themselves with the heathens, as they will vote lib regardless.

[AndyJackson]

Your statistics just proved by point. Now go and try to think about it for a bit.

O can win without the conservative right, hands down, no questions asked. A repbulican cannot win without support from the less than fervently evangelical. When the candidate offends those who just want to be left alone, both by the state and by right wing religious whackos, you are going to lose. You are welcome to your religion. Just don’t try to impose your fervor on me.