Posted on 11/09/2007 4:18:57 AM PST by dano1
Mike Huckabee, a wise-cracking, guitar-strumming, Baptist pastor has leapt into a conservative void and shot into contention in the unpredictable 2008 Republican White House race.
Huckabee, 52, was hitherto best known for being born in the same town, Hope, as Bill Clinton, and shedding more than 100 pounds from his once portly frame.
But, partly by exploiting discontent among Christian conservatives with the Republican field, Huckabee, a witty former Arkansas governor, has powered into second place in polls in Iowa, 65 days before the state's crucial caucuses.
"The religious right vote in the Iowa caucuses is a substantial bloc, and if you secure that support you are a serious player," said Cary Covington, a political science professor at the University of Iowa.
"Huckabee is, I think at a tipping point, he is going to need to do something splashy, a big financial haul, or a major endorsement," Covington said.
Huckabee's style is to leaven his staunch conservatism -- pro gun rights, doubts about the theory of evolution, opposition to gay marriage, and hawkish rhetoric on Iraq and the war on terror, with levity.
At an education forum at Northern Iowa University Wednesday, Huckabee, author of a book "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork," slipped into stand-up comic mode when a mobile phone rang.
"That's probably Dick Cheney wanting to take me hunting, and I am not going with him, OK?" he quipped, mocking the vice president's infamous shooting incident.
Such patter, and the fact that several of his Republican rivals are trying to appear something they are not -- lifelong social conservatives -- helps Huckabee to come across as humble and at ease.
Though a conservative, Huckabee is an outspoken advocate of spending government money on education, and healthcare for poor children.
And he told students at NIU that US schools had focused too narrowly on mathematics and science -- demanding the launch of "weapons of mass instruction" -- music and art.
"Math and science without music and art, is like trying to fly an airplane with a wing on the left, but without one on the right," he warned.
A bit-player at the start of the Republican race, polls now show Huckabee apparently on a roll.
In Iowa, an average by RealClearPolitics.com of recent polls has him in second place, on 15 percent and rising, behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney on 29 percent.
Nationally, a Rasmussen national daily tracking poll had Huckabee Wednesday third among Republicans, behind Rudolph Giuliani and Fred Thompson, but ahead of Senator John McCain and Romney.
Huckabee also came a strong second to Romney in a straw poll of evangelical voters recently in Washington.
He may also have another advantage, as ex-governors like Clinton, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan have dominated the presidency in recent decades.
But Huckabee will still be a longshot for the Republican nomination, even if he causes a stir in the Iowa caucuses on January 3.
Despite warm reviews from pundits, strong performances in Republican debates and backing of grass-roots conservatives, he is short of campaign cash.
Up until October, he had raised only 2.3 million dollars -- limiting his capacity to mount an Iowa advertising blitz.
By comparison, Romney, who has piled millions of dollars of his own cash into the race, had raised 62 million.
Huckabee also suffers from questions about his depth. He has no foreign policy experience -- a liability with Iran, Iraq and terrorism top issues.
So, Huckabee is increasingly being mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick.
As an evangelical Christian, with strong support from the "religious right" Huckabee would be a good match for Giuliani, who has alienated the bloc with his support for abortion rights and gay rights.
On a Romney ticket, Huckabee could head off suspicion among evangelical voters about the former Massachusetts governor's Mormon religion.
And as a southerner, Huckabee could help balance a ticket with either man, both of whom made their names in the liberal northeast.
Conservative? Hahahahaha!
Mike Huckabee. The Socialist From Arkansas. http://www.cofcc.org/?p=811
Mike Huckabee disses Americans, Mexicans, promotes illegal immigration
http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/005609.html
Christians Need To Beware Of Mike Huckabee
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071102.html
While Gov. of Arkansas, Huckabee was AGAINST proving citizenship in order to register to vote. He called those who were in favor of this “racists”...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050218/news_lz1e18perkins.html
Huckabee fought hard to kill an Arkansas bill which would have cut off social services for illegal aliens. Huckabee called the bill, “anti-Christian” and “un-American”...
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/01/28/News/316347.html
Huckabee supported in-state tuition for illegal aliens...
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/03/11/News/318458.html
Huck’s opposition to the illegal aliens bill:
http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/000718.html
Immigration Facts
It has been reported that Mike Huckabee supported benefits for illegals immigrants while he was Governor of Arkansas.
Governor Huckabee never supported benefits for illegal immigrants. In Arkansas, illegal immigrants do not receive welfare benefits or food stamps. Governor Huckabee has always, and will always be supportive of the laws and regulations of the country.
It has also been said that Mike Huckabee was in favor of providing college scholarships for illegal immigrants while he was Governor.
The governor only supported the measure that applied to those who met the academic qualifications and applied for legal citizenship. The measure didn't pass. Governor Huckabee stressed that any student would simply be treated as any other graduate of an Arkansas High School, and not given any special consideration.
Critics say that Governor Huckabee's motives behind opening a Mexican consulate office in Little Rock was to court illegals to come work in Arkansas.
The Mexican consulate provided Arkansas businesses with access to Mexico and opportunities to expand their markets, and would help further ensure that immigrants from Mexico are legal and better able to secure legal documentation. At the same time, the office would open up opportunities for Mexican investors to invest money with Arkansas partners, which would help create more jobs in the state.
Source: Huckabee website, Truth Squad: Immigration Facts, November 02, 2007
This really needs to be repeated over and over and over and over ....
Thanks for the independent (as opposed to the Huckabee pablum) links.
He seems to be solid PRO-GUN!
Thats a plus.
Long ago, a friend excitedly told me that he was voting for Jimmy Carter because he was an evangelical Christian.
Hmmm...
It seems that some evangelical Christians have short memories.
His evengelical Christian faith does not necessarily mean that Huckaby is the right choice for president.
I would never vote (or not vote) for someone just because of his/her church attendance.
I can print anything I want on a website, but that doesn’t make it true.
Endlessly quoting this man’s web hype shows that you have never researched what the man actually did and said while in office.
Dano, check your keywords. You and I have discussed border security before and you know who I think is by far the best on the issue. But, to hijack your keywords with childish diction does nothing to further the debate, especially when done by supporters of candidates who are themselves, novices and new converts to the issue. Just a heads up.
Beware of MSM members pumping up a “republican” candidate.
And he told students at NIU that US schools had focused too narrowly on mathematics and science -- demanding the launch of "weapons of mass instruction" -- music and art.
But we know he's a conservative because...he doesn't believe in evolution?
WFB is still alive, so he can't roll over in his grave...but when the press adores a conservative, you know he isn't conservative!
IMO, The Huckster is being pushed too hard by many of the wrong people...
No thank you.
Hello? Then he's not really a conservative.
Nice guy, though.
Huckabee is a useful idiot for the media.
He is a vote splitter pure and simple.
He’s not my first choice, but if he can put a damper on Romney’s campaign in Iowa, I am for him there. Anybody but Romney.
Again, all very nice but, what is his stand on murdering rapists being granted pardons?
seems the dinosaur media manipulation is not as dead as we would like.
Looks like campaign finance reform has perfected the art of shill donations.
The MSM will not report it because THEY need that money to survive.
Sooo...the MSM is getting concerned Rudy will tank..and are now backing a “conservative”.....
Huckabee is there to torpedo Thompson and to protect Giuliani.
Huckabee is only needed for a time just like ronpaul is a useful idiot for the delusional.
Giuliani is the true RINO problem because a Giuliani IS Hillary.
Huckabee supports the Big Government Entitlement Program of the PREBATE inthe Fair Tax Scam.
Frankly the ONLY two viable candidates are Thompson OR Romney.
The remaining six are a complete waste of time and a drain on resources.
No Giuliani, NO PROBLEM.
Huckabee is a far cry from being a Conservative.
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