1. It salves their consciences in a weird sort of way, or at least means they don't have to reject their entire world view. They didn't lose because their philosophy and concept of government is bankrupt -- they lost because of the hostility of a bunch of knuckle-dragging, ignorant, hateful, racist, neo-Confederate yahoos. Yeah! That's it!
2. More importantly, if they can hunt out and publicize the few die-hards out there, then they may be able to sabotage Perdue's administration.
Certainly there are folks who believe that the flag issue carried the day. I believe they are unwise if they allow liberal Democrats to publicize their views for their own purposes.
I hate the new flag both because it is extremely ugly and because Barnes did a very improper thing in the way he handled the flag issue under cover of darkness, so to speak -- there should be a referendum as there was in Mississippi, and let the chips fall where they may.