The story of Pat Robertson and how to take over a political party

Like other evangelical leaders, Robertson saw politics as a means to expand his religious influence, even if his own campaign fell short. While party nominations had been determined by voters since the 1970s, Robertson and other candidates sought to secure nominations with a stealthy and intense minority following. Prior to South Carolina’s crucial primary ahead of Super Tuesday, Robertson’s supporters infiltrated state party meetings, aiming to eliminate the primary and revert to an older nominating system that would give them an advantage at state conventions. The campaign hired a Baptist minister who discreetly engaged pastors, maneuvering to avoid detection by Republican Party officials. Robertson’s supporters on the ground, unaware of the larger convention system plan, were encouraged to attend county conventions, identify fellow Robertson supporters with colored hats, and cast their votes based on simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” signals. <a href="https://medium.com/@cbaylor/pat-robertsons-importance-to-the-christian-right-and-republican-politics-934debc5591d">Read More</a>