After watching the New Hampshire presidential debate last weekend, I was left with a sense that there’s an identity crisis in the Republican Party.

It is quite obvious that there is a growing sense of certainty among the Democrats, as they seem to be placing their bets on the message of change embodied by Barack Obama. Iowa’s recent caucus and his apparent leading of the polls early this week in New Hampshire are clear indications of Obama’s appeal.

Yet in contrast, Republicans seem reluctant to rally around any single candidate as early state primaries are suggesting. One needs only to look at the records of the Republican hopefuls to discover why voters are apprehensive of these candidates. The majority has waffled on the conservative platform that once united the party.

Rudy and Mitt with their support of gay rights and Huckabee and McCain supporting amnesty for illegals are confusing the average conservative out to support his party.

Yes it is very apparent the underlying problem with the party is that the Reagan coalition that was formed in the 1980s among social conservatives, anti-big government conservatives, anti-tax conservatives, and defense conservatives no longer exists.

While Huckabee and others such as Romney claim to be the conservative choice, as pointed out, their records paint a very different portrait of the two. Both practiced politics in their roles as governors that is clearly identified as blasphemous according to the gospel of Reagan. To say the least, both men embraced tax hikes to fund larger government roles within their individual states.

It seems there is but one conservative in the order of Reagan bidding for the party’s top spot and he got a late start to the game. That contender is Fred Thompson. His record, while in the Senate, stands as testimony to his loyalty to the coalition platform. He has been consistent on conservative social and fiscal issues. However, he has been unable to create the spark among conservatives that Reagan was able to fan that led to his victory.

So what is the party to do? No one is for sure, not even the party insiders. The jabs and head-on attacks that were once reserved for opponents across the aisle are now being thrown against Republican hopefuls, much like dogs attacking one of their own that has been injured.

Voters will be the agent that will determine the face of the emergent Republican Party for the next decade within this primary season. Will they embrace the popularist message of a Huckabee wrapped within an evangelical packaging or a conservative message wrapped in the packaging of a Southern statesman?

I suppose only time will tell.

Larry Brooks is a staff writer for the Walker County Messenger. He can be reached by email at lbrooks@walkermessenger.com.