Republicans are struggling to find a candidate who can represent every aspect of their diverse party. Beyond pleasing the tax-cutters and the anti-government libertarians, can any of the Republican candidates represent that all-important, vehement voting bloc - evangelicals and religious conservatives?

Can they trust former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon who as few as four years ago favored pro-choice policies and vowed to outdo Ted Kennedy on gay rights issues? What about the former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, who still espouses pro-choice and pro-gay rights beliefs? What about former actor and lobbyist Fred Thompson, who represents hated Hollywood and used to lobby for a pro-choice group?

If only there were a candidate who could represent the disenfranchised social conservatives! It could be a former Baptist minister, with a proven conservative track record as governor of a Southern state. Someone who is not afraid to call abortion "a holocaust" and strongly opposes gay marriage, but with an affable personality and charming optimism like Ronald Reagan.

Meet Mike Huckabee.

The former governor of Arkansas has been under the radar so far, largely due to trouble fundraising and the lack of a national profile. Running against a man with unlimited money in Romney, and Time's 2001 Person of the Year, Rudy Giuliani, he has found it tough to get noticed. Fears about viability have kept most evangelical leaders away, even though Huckabee is their perfect candidate.

Huckabee and his wife have a "covenant marriage" - a sort of "super-marriage" in which a couple specifically limits their potential causes for divorce before their wedding day. This is the complete opposite of thrice-married Giuliani. Huckabee's comprehensive pro-life stance includes health and education for poor children, not just abortion.

Best of all, the former governor presents the social conservative message in a non-threatening way. Huckabee is famous for losing 110 pounds as governor and writing a book called Stop Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork. He's been called "one of the funniest presidential contenders" by The New York Times and is a talented guitarist for his band, Capitol Offense. Another fact (and perhaps most interesting to college students): Chuck Norris likes Mike - he gave the former governor his wholehearted endorsement last month.

Does this sound like your typical evangelical politician?

The public loves it, and Huckabee has quietly crept into second place in polls in Iowa behind Mitt Romney, though he had only $651,300 in cash on hand at the end of the third fundraising quarter. He has momentum, and the national media are beginning to take notice. This momentum began with a strong second-place showing at the Ames straw poll in August, despite Romney's huge cash and staff advantages. Huckabee said to the Iowans in Ames, "I can't buy you. I don't have the money. I can't even rent you."

He may not have to. Huckabee could be the upset winner of Iowa's caucuses on Jan. 3. This cannot happen, however, without the financial and volunteer support of evangelical leaders and other prominent social conservatives. Their failure to rally around Mike Huckabee, their obvious choice, shows that they value victory more than integrity. Ironically, Huckabee would be perfectly viable if every evangelical leader came out to support him. So why haven't they?

Huckabee's brand of "Main Street" (as opposed to "Wall Street") conservatism is threatening to the party elite's favoritism of the wealthy. On Monday, Heights columnist Kevin Boland perfectly showcased this viewpoint by speaking of the need for Republicans to "keep the evangelical wing of the party in check."

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Evangelicals are not a fringe group needing to be tamed - they are the beating heart of the Republican base, single-handedly responsible for electing and re-electing George W. Bush. Many Republicans voted that way purely because of abortion and religious considerations. For those voters, being Republican is about much more than taxes and government intervention. Nominating a Mormon or social liberal would be baffling to them.

Huckabee exposes the cracks in the party armor. Since Republicans cannot have it both ways in 2008, they must nominate either a Wall Street fiscal conservative or a Main Street social conservative. Either way, they disenfranchise part of their base and risk losing the election.

Joshua Darr is a Heights staff columnist. He welcomes comments at jdarr@bcheights.com.

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