Posted on 01/19/2008 3:30:11 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Mike Huckabee has pulled a neat trick.His appeal so far has been limited exclusively to evangelicals, yet the press has taken him seriously as a new populist force in the Republican Party who could at any moment "break out" to appeal to_lower-income voters.
Who knew a candidate of Christian identity politics would be afforded such respect? But Huckabee has managed it, which is one reason why he should open a strategic-communications firm the day after he leaves the presidential race. The ability to gull analysts into making so much from so little is a rare and potentially lucrative talent.
Huckabee won Iowa for one reason - he won an overwhelming plurality of evangelical voters in a GOP caucus where they made up an astonishing 60 percent of the electorate. Huckabee won 47 percent of evangelical voters, and only 14 percent of nonevangelicals - less than John McCain and Fred Thompson, who tied for third in_Iowa, and barely more than Ron Paul, who finished fifth.
On this basis, E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post declared "a revolution in Republican politics." David Brooks of The New York Times opined that Huckabee's win "opens up the way for a new coalition," given how profoundly he understands "middle-class anxiety." Huckabee's national campaign chairman, Ed Rollins, talked in similarly grand terms of rallying working-class voters to the GOP.
But working-class voters haven't cooperated. In New Hampshire, where Huckabee finished a distant third, he won 33 percent of evangelicals, but just 7 percent of nonevangelicals - less than Ron Paul. In Michigan, he lost evangelicals to Mitt Romney 34-29, and got just 8 percent of nonevangelicals - again, less than Ron Paul. So among nonevangelicals, Huckabee is as much a fringe candidate as the sometimes bizarre libertarian purist.
Huckabee is a kinder and gentler Pat Robertson.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Yep,and if that doesn't work, they have McCain to fall back on. The media loves him because he's most like them.....
“Huckabee is a kinder and gentler Pat Robertson.”
I voted for Pat when he ran in the primaries out of principle — he’s a smart man and he is 100% more honest than Huckster.
Yeah, most of the press is pro-life (note the sarcasm).
Check McCain’s strong support from pro-life groups over the years.
Yep,and if that doesn't work, they have McCain to fall back on. The media loves him because he's most like them....."
I agree. When the NYSlimes is writing puff pieces on a GOP candidate, it makes me want to hurl...and then not support that candidate.
>The press is fawning over Huckabee because he’d be the easiest nominee for the democrats to beat in November. Period.<
That is exactly right.
I can’t stand people like Huckabee who have that holier than thou attitude but are actually thoroughly dishonest.
he’s a smart man and he is 100% more honest than HucksterI agree with your sentiment but feel compelled to correct your math.
"100% more" means "twice as much as".
So if Huckabee is honest 5% of the time (my estimate) then you are saying that Pat Robertson is honest 10% of the time.
I think what you mean to say is that Pat Robertson is close to 100% honest, which would be 20 times more honest than Huckabee.
If that's the case (a distinct possibility) then we can say that Robertson is 1900% more honest than Huckabee.
All that aside, I don’t think the Huckabee voters will move to a real conservative candidate if they leave Huckabee. I don’t think they’re (1) aware of the records of Romney & McCain, (2) I think they’re easily led about by a nose rope by the media.
They will not come down with Thompson, but they’ll end up primarily with McCain. I wish it weren’t so, but I’m afraid it is.
What about Huck as veep?
Noooo!!!!!!!!!!!! The man has no business in national politics, let him go become a televangelist and leave the rest of us alone.
Actually Fred Thompson was third and the insane candidate was fourth, yet one of our own joins the enemedia in proclaiming them tied.
Yes, I know it was very close and that in taking predictive polls results that close are referred to as VIRTUAL ties because of the margin of error of the polls.
No matter how close, these were finished ACTUAL results and Thompson beat McCain. Thompson finished third in Iowa; McCain finished fourth.
This is a very good article. The quote “His campaign has specialized in sanctimony layered on top of disinengenuousnes, low demogoguery and policy incoherence.” is a very accurate description of the Huckabee campaign. Though I am reluctant to judge anyone’s religion, Huckabee’s continual dishonesty makes it impossible to believe he is really a Christian. You can not be a true follower of Jesus Christ and lie as much as he does.
Exactly. If the Huckster is the nominee he loses the general election. If McCain is the nominee and he wins, the MSM has their liberal; if he loses, the MSM still has their liberal.
Their game is quite transparent.
Why would Conservatives settle for Jimmuh II - the Sequel, for a VEEP?
I'd much prefer Duncan Hunter as VEEP......
” think what you mean to say is that Pat Robertson is close to 100% honest, which would be 20 times more honest than Huckabee.”
Robertson showed his true colors when he endorsed Guilliani! What a maroon!
His main role is that of a victim. Libs win at playing victim.
He is a smart man. He built a TV empire on the donations of other and then sold it and pocketed the money. So, it was legal. But I'm not sure it was honest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.