Question 3: Is the candidate actively and specifically courting the vote of that particular wacky group, or is there a reason to worry that them being a part of the coalition will wackily influence policy or be legitimized?

That came up during the Ron Paul thing, and I think there was a point there (in that Paul’s team certainly HAD actively courted the objectionable segment), though I disagreed with it (in that I couldn’t see any way that racists being a part of the “don’t tread on me” coalition either legitimizes them or delegitimizes the coalition). It also, I think, plays in instances where the candidate is obviously making an effort to fold a particular wacky group under their umbrella (as with, say, John McCain and Rev. Hagee), or in some way prostrate themselves to them.

But, again, I don’t see how that plays in this instance. What’s the fear, in this case?