For Republican presidential candidates, capturing the Deep South means capturing the base of American conservatism. But southern voters have yet to decide on any one candidate, and southern sensibilities are broadening. Our partner, the New York Times, reported that the southern conservative electorate may be far more diverse than it once was. Are the Southern Republican voters going to gravitate towards Rick Santorum’s conservative social agenda, or are voters more about Newt Gingrich, the only one on the ballots with actual ties to the south? And what about Mitt Romney – are Southern evangelicals ready for a Mormon president? Mike Ball is the Republican state representative for Madison, Alabama. Campbell Robertson is a reporter for our partner The New York Times.