THE REPUBLICAN CRISIS

What does it mean to be a Republican? A conservative? It depends on whom you ask.

Last week, a not-so-shocking shock poll came out from FloridaPolitics.com.

The poll of 590 Republicans regarded the State Attorney race had Melissa Nelson leading, 38 percent to 29 percent, over Angela Corey.

Why is that notable? In part because Corey has played the party card to the hilt throughout this campaign.

For the first year or so of the race, Corey was running against Wes White, and the narrative was fairly predictable. Corey kept raising money — $10,000 or $15,000 a month. And White would score points, calling press conferences about hot-button issues, and got coverage from a media that, by and large, has grown weary of being hectored by Angela Corey.

But earned media can take you only so far.

In May, a third candidate — Nelson — got in the race, presenting a meaningful contrast to both Corey and White.

She presented an image of youth and vitality, a stark difference from the older and more strident candidates in the race.

And she had access to the donor pool that had eluded White.

By the end of May’s fundraising, Nelson already had amassed, between her PAC and her campaign account, a third of a million dollars in resources.

That buys ads galore. You’ve seen them, soft focus ads that make Nelson seem reasonable, devoted to family, and conservative in a way that actually seems like she’s attempting to conserve something.

Her rhetoric at forums and in interviews, as opposed to that of her opponents, offers meaningful reform positions.

They might not be enough for some people, but they represent the first glimpse into the 21st century in criminal justice in Jacksonville, where it’s always 1985.

And all this is happening despite the most ham-handed, hick-town, brazen play to close a primary to non-Republicans in Florida history.

Even the Republicans, to whom Corey panders like they have badges, are rejecting her. It’s quite amazing.

And anomalous.

If Nelson wins this primary — still a big if, despite one poll of Republicans — it will be considered a major upset.

And a victory for the donor class.

If Nelson didn’t have the reputation in the legal community she has, no one would have ever encouraged her to run. And no one, certainly, would be writing $25,000 checks to her PAC.

And if she is able to win this primary running on a positive message, it will be an anomaly in terms of 2016 Republicans.

Because the reality is, the party of Lincoln has become the party of Trump.

The Republicans of the middle part of last century were the kinds of people you’d see on Mad Men; the Republicans of 2016 are the kinds of people you see in line at the Golden Corral buffet or the lottery kiosk at the Gate station, grimacing as they pile their buffet plates high or use golf pencils to fill in the bubbles on a Pick 6, wearing their Benghazi Matters T-shirts most days, except on Casual Fridays, when they might break out a shirt with a rebel flag on it.

You can see the effects of the Trumpification of the GOP in many ways.

And, on a national level, you see people like Richard Armitage endorsing Hillary Clinton — since it’s their opinion that Trump has all of the policy chops of a public commenter at City Council.

The effects of the coarsening of the Republican Party, the embrace of quasi-populist symbolism, can be felt on many levels.

In the aftermath of the Pulse shooting, for example, Republicans in Florida struggled with words like “LGBT” and “gay” like they were getting speech therapy after a stroke.

If you look at State House races locally, such as in Districts 11 and 12, you see a race to the right on issue after issue. No moderation is brooked; no nuance is allowed. God forbid that someone not grandstand to the cheap seats.

The most moderate guy in the HD 11 race, Donnie Horner, just switched from the Democratic Party a few years back. He’s branded himself as a “conservative Republican.” Because nuance doesn’t play in Nassau County. The voters, see, are mad as hell. And they’re not gonna take it anymore. Unless it has a flag decal made in China attached to it.

In HD 12, Terrance Freeman, council assistant to Councilman Aaron Bowman from the Jax Chamber, is running.

Freeman’s boss sold the HRO to council a few months back, and Freeman was part of that. At a forum last week, though, when asked about the HRO, Freeman punted. Even when asked a follow-up question, he couldn’t say if he supported it or not, instead burbling some inanity about jobs.

If you’re a moderate Republican running in NE Florida, you’d better be good at yoga. Because you’re going to have to be flexible. And your principles? Take them to a pawn shop and hock them now. You won’t need them.