2008 Republican Nomination Struggle and Choice of the Republican Party

2008년 공화당 예비선거: 공화당의 선택과 매케인

Unlike the Democratic nomination, Republican nomination struggle has ended with an easy victory of Senator John McCain. This paper claims that the easy victory of McCain should not be interpreted as Republican's return to the median voter, because it masks religious schism and ideological discord among the Republicans. Christian rights were still reluctant to support McCain mostly due to his liberal position on social issues. In addition, the conservatives who request stricter immigration policy presented the mixed feeling toward the Republican candidate. Even though McCain chose the harmony inside the Republican party, rather than sticked to his liberal attitude toward social issues during the campaign for 2008 general election, McCain's defeat is unlikely to result in a rapid change in the Republican party.