A case study in political rhetoric: Political and religious cohesion in the South

This study of political and religious rhetoric questions the means by which a staunch religious individual becomes successful in the political arena. The overt religious and political rhetoric of Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), who is also an ordained Baptist minister, is analyzed by method of textual analysis. Three speeches from different contexts are examined with the assistance of the Q.S.R. NUD.IST program for qualitative data analysis. The findings indicate that Huckabee\u27s success in both ideological realms has occurred while using primarily three rhetorical tools to build ethos with the secular populace: self-disclosure, logic via example, and secular humor. Although, not apodictic, this investigation will serve in constituting rhetorical frameworks for the religious-based politician