Is this a good thing?  In one sense political prognostication is the great American game, but to actually set it up as a web site for a fantasy politics like fantasy football?  It seems to trivialize things a bit.  Personally, I think fantasy football has not helped the game any, nobody roots for the home team anymore, just "their" team.

Speaking of which, John McIntyre looks at the 2008 landscape.  We have an interview with him

Taking the press's bait: 

There is growing concern among high-level evangelical leaders that the Romney campaign may have duped them after it was revealed by the Globe that Romney’s team has constructed a Mormon political machine in secret after repeatedly stating in private to them that Romney would not run with the Mormon Church’s backing.

Again with the unnamed "high-level evangelical leaders" - why won't these people stick their heads above ground?  This piece from the normally reliable Ankle-Biting Pundits errs first by buying the Globe's hype - What machine?  What secret?  Charges implied by the Globe coverage, but never directly made, let alone proved.  Then there is the by now old Ted Haggard out-of-context quotation.  I'm disappointed; good blogs like ABP are supposed to find the press's problems, not join them.  Lowell:  I'm really struck by ABP's credulity here.  Hook, line, sinker.  Maybe even the pole.

UPDATE!: Incredulous no more- McCain Operative! I wondered last week if McCain was not behind the Globe's chasing of this "story."  Further indication to this observer that the religion question will be floated far more by opponents than be a genuine religious concern among Evangelicals.  Lowell:  Ouch!  How many times now have we seen a McCain operative play the religion card against Romney?  Twice, by my count.  This time, through Ankle-Biting Pundits, and also this time.  And there will be other times!  I have some more commentary on this here.

By the way, John and I have no professional affiliation or employment relationship with anyone we write about.  If we were, we'd disclose the relationship.  Just thought we'd make that clear.

UPDATE 2:  Still more about this here. Note the comment thread in particular.  Patrick Hynes, the Ankle-Biting Pundit blogger (who is a political consultant hired by McCain) even makes an appearance.

On the other hand, Evangelicals for Mitt gets it entirely.

There is gonna be a South Carolina Primary debate in May '07.  Yeesh, that's early.  This will; however be interesting.  South Carolina is where, among the early primaries, any appreciable "Mormon effect" would be most apparent. Lowell: This event may require liveblogging by one or both of us.  How do you feel about red clay, John?

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