Maybe not such a crackpot theory after all?

Here in Washington state, candidates appear on the ballot noting a preference for a particular political party (except for the presidential candidates). This does mean they are actually a member of that party. It’s a little weird. But what’s weirder is that Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate for Washington state governor sued for and won the right to state his preference for the GOP rather than the Republican Party on the ballot. Consequently, several candidates also chose GOP rather than Republican.

The popular opinion amongst the Democrats in Washington state is that Rossi did this because 25% of the population don’t know that the GOP and the Republican Party are the same. And that given the current mood about the Republicans this election cycle, he’s fooling a number of people into thinking they are voting for a third party candidate. Maybe they are? Could this be another indicator of the coming schism I theorized yesterday? Could those who label themselves Republican be doing so for a particular reason, same as those labeling themselves GOP?

My predicted blame game is already starting:

"The emergence of a Palin faction comes as Republicans gird for a battle over the future of their party: Some see her as a charismatic, hawkish conservative leader with the potential, still unrealized, to cross over to attract moderate voters. Anger among Republicans who see Palin as a star and as a potential future leader has boiled over because, they say, they see other senior McCain aides preparing to blame her in the event he is defeated."

Cross-posted to Pandora’s Politics.