Divide and Conquer; what are our chances?

[ktowntennesseedem]

I was thinking about the past two elections when democrats received 48%-49% percent of the vote, and wondered what we could do change that. But when I pondered, what if we are stuck in the high-40's? What if that's the best we can do? Then it got me thinking about Lincoln's election in 1860. After a little research, I found that while he was elected with 59% of the electoral vote, but garnered only 40% of the popular vote, due largely to the opposition vote being split three ways beaten Breckinridge, Bell and Douglas. And that got me to wondering, what would it take for a repeat of history?

With his little mandate in his pocket, * seems hell-bent on pushing through an increasingly conservative and fiscally irresponsible agenda, all with the blessings of theocratic fundamentalists. Surely moderate Republicans will eventually grow weary of this and withdraw their support from the religious-right juggernaut. I've heard many here suggest we need a moderate democrat nominee in '08 in hopes of picking off some of these disgruntled Republicans. But what if enough moderate Republicans pull away and lend their support to a middle-of-the-road candidate of their own?

Or what if party leaders get * to back off in an effort to keep moderates happy? All that will do it alienate newly-emboldened religious conservatives who feel they put * back in office and therefore deserve *'s full support and loyalty. They would likely accuse * of breaking a multitude of promises, and turn their support to a religious-conservative candidate of their choosing.

Republicans seem to be a large and difficult opponent, but can they maintain unity over the next four years? What would you think the chances of seeing a three-way 2008 race between a democratic candidate, and say, John McCain and Judge Roy Moore? And what, if anything, could we do prepare for such a scenario or even work to help bring it to pass?