Posted on 04/10/2014 8:28:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Ten days ago, a poll by WPA Opinion Research showed former Arkansas Gov. and 2008 Republican primary runner-up Mike Huckabee tied for the lead of the 2016 GOP race. Now, another survey, this one by Suffolk University, shows Huckabee at the front of the pack, this time in Iowa, the state that will kick off the caucus and primary process.
With a field so crowded, it doesn't take a huge level of support to be at the top. In the Suffolk poll, Huckabee is the choice of 11 percent of Iowa Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are next, each with ten percent. Sen. Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson are tied at nine percent. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is at seven percent. And six potential candidates Rep. Paul Ryan, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Marco Rubio, former Sen. Rick Santorum and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are tied at six percent.
But Huckabee, who last won an election in 2002 and is now best known as host of a weekend program on Fox News, is at the top. And the former governor who says he has not decided whether to run just happened to be in Iowa on Tuesday night, speaking to a group of social conservatives and meeting with key political figures.
"Gov. Huckabee had a great day in Iowa Tuesday, and [the Suffolk poll] reflects what we saw on the ground," says Chad Gallagher, executive director of Huckabee's political action committee, HuckPAC. "While he has not made a decision on 2016, the Suffolk University poll shows a trend of support that is vital in the decision-making process."
In a recent conversation, Huckabee stressed that he will not decide whether or not to run until after this November's elections. But in a statement after the WPA poll was released, Huckabee made clear it's a serious possibility. "While any decision on my part is some time away, this is certainly encouraging, since I've not even been named in most polls, and certainly not considered an 'insider,' " he said. "If I were to run, I'd certainly start in a different place than in 2008."
Please no.
Stay on the media porch.
Been there done that. No further action wanted. Stick to playin’ bass huck.
I will say this until I am blue in the face:
Huckabee exists at the pleasure of the establishment. His job is to peel off social conservatives to split the conservative vote thereby increasing the chances of an establishment plurality victory.
ANY presidential run by this man will be surrepititiously funded by establishment supporters for that sole purpose.
If he runs, the purpose will be Jeb’s stalking horse. I hope social conservatives in middle America (particularly Iowa) don’t fall for it.
He’s a spoiler.
Just in it to split an already fractured party.
Yeah,
You said it MUCH better than I.
Don’t go away mad, Huckster. Just go away.
There's the Dean Scream .... and then there's the Conservative Scream ....
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Part of the GOPe effort to dupe Christians who are socially conservative economic socialists into splitting the vote so that a Jeb or Krispy Kreme can get the nomination.
NO!!!
Are Republicans ever going to find someone other than retreads to run for president?
ugh!!!!! there are the low information voters, the racial voters who vote for someone because of skin color, and then the--well, i do not know what to call them--the "Evangelical" Christian voters who vote for candidates simply because they are Evangelical Christians...
as a homeschooler, i was an admirer of Michael Farris (HSLDA) and his college, Patrick Henry College--until he endorsed Mike Huckabee for President back in 2008...
Mike Huckabee is the John McCain of 2008... back then i wanted John McCain to go away already, and now i want Mike Huckabee to go away once and for all!
I can agree with sentence #2 completely. I’m not as certain about your conclusion, but you may well be right. I really doubt they will have to spend any cash to back Huck as long as the conservative circular firing squad works as effectively as it did in 2012.
We will both be blue in the face however, as people on FR seem to not understand that it’s the GOP and it’s political machine and money that determine who the candidates will be. They will control the messaging to the low-information voters (and yes, there are PLENTY of them on our side too) when the timing is right.
What has been accomplished since the Obama re-election to organize, fund, and motivate a strong conservative alternative? Answer: “Nothing”. We’re sitting here worrying about a has-been bass playing TV talker when we don’t have a conservative candidate or any kind of organization that could take on the GOP-e.
The way to really tell if Nanny Huckabee is running is if he starts shedding some of that weight he’s packed back on since his last run at the White House.
I just cannot vote for these kinds of guys in the Repub party. I have always just shut my eyes and said it is better than voting Dem. Now there is no difference so I will just stay home and watch movies. Only exception - Ted Cruz
Hey Mike, the trend is NOOOOO!!!!!!
hudkleberry proved what kind of backstabber he is back in 2008 and if he has any sense he will keep his day job.
He would have to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, and no more mansion living for him and Mrs. hudkleberry. Ruhroh.
SALARY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: $400,000
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/governmentjobs/a/Annual-Salaries-Of-Top-Us-Government-Officials.htm
MIKE HUCKABEE’s SALARY AT FOX NOW: $500,000
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-politicians/republicans/mike-huckabee-net-worth/
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.