Brace yourselves, Republicans: presidential candidate Alan Keyes may be leaving the GOP. In a conference call with supporters last night, Keyes is said to have told supporters that staying in the Republican Party would be "an occasion of sin" and is ready to bolt. Keyes, it seems, really dislikes John McCain (and, as we recall from an event in Iowa, everyone else running for president) and reportedly wants no part in selecting the "type of deodorant we need to make a stinking candidate acceptable to conservatives." A Keyes supporter on the last night's call confirms to Radar that the former Reagan administration official "stated in the conference call that he could no longer remain in the Republican Party."

As for what's next, a third party bid seems like a good bet. Keyes hinted at the possibility on a radio program in January, and an e-mail sent out by the campaign after last night's conference call (subject header: "Constitution Party poll") includes a link for supporters who "want to vote for Alan as your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice on the Constitution Party presidential poll." A Keyes message board commenter who claims to have been on the conference call last night said regarding the possibility of a Constitution Party run that, "Alan asked us to pray about it. That's what he is doing as he is considering these things. He did not say he's definately [sic] going to do it, but from the tone of things I am going to say it's very likely." Radar has thrown its prayer pants on and awaits a response to phone and e-mail inquiries to the Keyes campaign.