Then there were nine

As the New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucuses grow ever closer, the 2008 nominating contests are heating up. Today, word came that Sam Brownback—a standard bearer for religious conservatives—is to quit the Republican race. Brownback’s campaign has never caught on as many pundits thought it would and he simply doesn’t have the money or the name recognition to be a serious contender any more.

Brownback’s withdrawal is good news for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee who has been competing for the same Christian conservative voters. Indeed with Brownback out, Huckabee has a real chance of sneaking a shock win in Iowa which would deal a huge blow to the campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who has invested huge amounts of time and money in the state.

Another thing to watch for is if Brownback endorses any other candidate. One thing is certain he won’t be endorsing Romney who Brownback regularly attacked as a Johnny come lately on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. If Brownback throws his weight behind Rudy Giuliani it will show that the socially liberal former New York Mayor is capable of holding the Republican coalition together and begin to lend a sense of inevitably to his campaign. While if Brownback gives the nod to his friend and fellow Senator John McCain it will confirm that the former frontrunner is right back in the race.