It’s funny how stories on Gov. Barbour’s foot-in-mouth statement about the white supremacy Citizens Council include statements that “liberal” blogs have cried the loudest. Technically, this may be true. But it’s not the whole story.

Non-conservative bloggers are more apt to publicly criticize a Republican presidential candidate’s stupid remarks. But don’t believe for a second that other Republican presidential candidates are not sharpening their knives to stab Barbour in the back over the statement.

Raising money has as much to do with getting elected president as anything. It doesn’t matter how great of a candidate you are. If you can’t raise money, then you can’t win.

Primary candidates are often forced out of the election because they run out of money. At this point in Barbour’s candidacy, garnering support within Republican ranks—primarily by raising money—is the most important measure of his candidacy. It dwarfs anything that liberals are saying about Barbour.

So the immediate problem with Barbour’s statement is that it gives something for Romney, Huckabee, Palin, etc. to attack Barbour on behind the scenes in Republican circles. Statements to big-money Republicans like: “give your money to me. Barbour can’t win because of his statements about race” are the immediate threat to Barbour.

If Barbour gets the Republican nomination, then Democrats will revive his Citizens Council comment. But at this point, Democrats are the least of his concerns. Those Republicans with smiles on their faces and knives behind their backs are the threat to Barbour.