Brownback's challenge

This is a great overview (here, also here) from USAToday of the challenges faced by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in seeking the GOP nomination in 2008. I think his chances are enhanced by the seemingly wide-open, large, moderate field of candidates. And as the article notes:

It's a mistake to underestimate him," former Republican national chairman Ed Gillespie says. "There's no substitute for sincerity in politics, and he comes from a neighboring state, and he is strong on a lot of issues that Iowa voters care about."

In Iowa and beyond, Christian conservative leaders say they can't determine who gets the Republican presidential nomination, but they probably can block a candidate who is unacceptable to them.

And I agree with this statement from Brownback:

"There are two windows you've got to get through" to win the Republican presidential nomination, [Brownback] says the next morning over pancakes and coffee at Des Moines' Drake Diner. "One is: Are you ideologically acceptable? Secondly: Are you electable?"

While Brownback doesn't say it here, I think these two questions need to be answered in order. And as I perceive many Dems are doing with Obama, I think many Conservatives are putting the cart before the horse.