Yes I think religion did play a big role in the South.
They voted for one of their own, Huckabee. He won most of the Southern states.
“They voted for one of their own, Huckabee.”
Probably true. As did Utah.
Like her, I would tend to give Romney the benefit of the doubt as to whether his conversions to conservative was sincere given the constituency which he governed.
The only thing for certain is that the default nominee McCain will not govern as a conservative assuming he can beat the odds and get elected. And Huck was his chief enabler.