GOP Finds Hope in Last-Ditch Fla. Candidate

South Florida Republicans are thrilled with Congressional candidate Allen West. They see the black Army veteran as a potential GOP standard bearer. There’s just one problem: In 2003, West was accused of abusing an Iraqi detainee and violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But some Republicans actually see that as a positive, the New Republic reports.

West’s mere presence on the ticket is proof of the GOP's desperation. The party was against running him, but quality candidates are in such short supply that state Republicans have convinced themselves that West’s “Taji incident,” as he calls it, is actually a plus. Gripes the chair of the Broward County GOP: "You would think in the culture we're in now, the national party would stand up and take notice."
(More Allen West stories.)