A follow-up from the friend who posted last week about Huckabee. He read the discussions here and elsewhere and wanted to respond. The second and third paragraphs are the most significant because my friend’s attitudes are those of lots of lots of evangelical Christians even if they won’t say so in public:

Yes, it’s true that Mike Huckabee isn’t (yet) a likely candidate to win the GOP nomination, let alone the general election. He hasn’t shown the ability – or desire – to raise the kind of money needed to be a formidable candidate (and I do believe that fundraising is important because it shows the breadth and depth of a candidate’s support).
And if Mitt Romney wasn’t a too-slick-for-his-own-good, flip-flopper from Massachusetts (not to mention the Mormon factor); if Giuliani wasn’t a New York liberal with more personal baggage than former President Clinton; and if John McCain wasn’t…..well…..John McCain, then perhaps I’d be singing a different tune.
Sure, some think Fred Thompson is the savior for conservatives, but with a shaky lobbying past, his support for campaign finance reform, opposition to tort reform, and his campaign’s chaotic early start – including a mass exodus of top staff and a recent New York Times story about his wife running his campaign – that label may be premature.
In 1994, Republicans convinced voters they believed in something and had a clear direction to move our nation forward and, in return, the American people gave them the Presidency and control of both the House and Senate. The 2006 elections showed us that once a party loses focus and abandons principle then voters will give another person – or party – control.
Hopefully, primary voters will get behind the candidate who is right on the issues, has the experience needed to lead the nation, and has the professionalism and eloquence to represent us to the world, relate to the American people, and work with the other side to get things accomplished in Washington.
Picking the “electable” candidate with the high name ID and ability to raise money is what brought us John Kerry, Al Gore, and Bob Dole. Maybe the GOP can learn a thing or two from the Democrats who back in the early ’90′s chose a little-known Governor from Hope Arkansas to be their nominee…..

Is there any wonder that Republicans are $100 million behind Democrats in fundraising thus far? The Democratic base is mobilized and excited. The Republican base – evangelicals – are demoralized and defeated.
Spiritually this is good – it is time for evangelicals to spend some quality time listening to God and what God would have them do with their political voice – politically this is devastating for Republicans. So much for that permanent Republican majority.