If they could resurrect Ronald Reagan in his prime, they probably would.

For many local conservatives, the presidential election is boiling down to a lesser of two evils choice: Vote for a candidate you don't really like or face the worse prospect of a Democrat in the White House.

Neither John McCain nor Mike Huckabee, the two remaining Republicans in the race, are inspiring the faithful like the Gipper did.

Many conservatives distrust McCain for his tendency to take maverick stances and cooperate with Democrats on several key issues, particularly immigration and the environment.

They're down on Huckabee for his critique of capitalism, his record of tax increases as governor of Arkansas and his environmentalism.

Jack Stone, a prominent local Republican, said he thinks Republicans will swallow their distaste for McCain out of fear of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the two Democratic candidates.

Other Republicans seconded that, but most aren't pleased with either Republican choice.

"I'm not particularly comfortable with either one of them," said Frank Silva, owner of Fashion Cleaners in Hanford.

"The biggest problem I have with McCain: The first time I ever heard him say conservative was two weeks ago. And so there's a trust issue there," he said.

Silva was more displeased with Huckabee.

"I don't believe he's a true conservative. This is a guy who raised taxes heavily in his own state," said Silva.

Those views reflect the rest of conservative America.

An Associated Press survey released Monday showed McCain and Huckabee neck and neck in their low ratings.

The poll showed McCain with support from 38 percent of self-described conservatives nationally, compared to 35 percent for Huckabee.

Some local Republicans said they knew little or nothing about Huckabee, who is staying in the Republican fight despite McCain's huge lead in the delegate race.

The latest estimate gives McCain 812 and Huckabee 217.

McCain needs 1,191 delegates to win the nomination.

Hanford resident David Vierra said he knows nothing about Huckabee's immigration or foreign policy stances.

"You don't get anything concrete from him," he said.

Every local Republican interviewed used words like "leery" and "distrust" when referring to McCain.

Hanford conservative Russell Waymire said he is "uncomfortable" with McCain because of his stances on campaign finance reform (McCain co-sponsored the McCain-Feingold law that many conservatives despise) and lowering taxes (McCain didn't support the Bush tax cuts, although recently he said they should be made permanent).

"McCain has to earn trust, and he hasn't necessarily earned that yet," Waymire said.

McCain draws much of his strength from independents and moderates who like the Arizona senator's bipartisan reputation and maverick tendencies. That allows him to do well against Obama and Clinton in hypothetical head-to-head matchups.

But commentators agree that if McCain is to have a realistic chance, he has to prevent a conservative defection.

Rush Limbaugh, the leading conservative radio talk show host, has said that he would rather have a Democrat as president than see John McCain elected.

Republican pundit Ann Coulter went so far as to say she will campaign for Hillary Clinton if McCain is the nominee.

Still, most Republicans are backing McCain, as evidenced by the knockout blow he delivered to Mitt Romney on Super Tuesday.

Waymire thinks Republicans "just may think that (McCain's) more electable."

As for Huckabee, conservatives mostly say they aren't familiar with him, or -- if they are -- don't like him much.

The one exception is religious conservatives for whom Christianity is the driving force behind their vote.

"He is definitely conservative, because of his Christian values. I think that's going to be strong guidance for him," said Mary Jane Loya, a Hanford conservative who said that Christian faith has "a lot to do" with how she votes.

But Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, doesn't sit well with conservatives who are leery of the Republican party's most religious voters.

"If I wanted a preacher to be our leader, I'd vote for Billy Graham. I don't want religious people in charge. I want practical people in charge," Silva said.

Silva isn't fond of Huckabee's criticisms of capitalism. Huckabee has critiqued some aspects of free market economics that drive much of conservative thinking.

Silva hopes Republicans of every stripe will get behind McCain.

For him, the consequences of a Democrat in power are too distasteful to contemplate.

"Of course, we've got to stay with the ticket. The alternative is socialism," he said.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2432.

(Feb. 13, 2008)