Huckabee hasn’t won a single vote yet. The idea that money and organization are key is because in the past it has been money and organization that has led to victory.
Before Iowa in 2004, we all heard how on the ground organization and big money donors were passe as Dean created a groundswell of support and a broad donor base from the internet. Dean faded quickly though as more and more people started paying attention.
Television advertising and mass mailing postcards and flyers influences the least politically savvy portion of our society. Unfortunately, that is by far the largest portion of society. Thus, getting effective TV ads and designing postcards that can quickly influence people (as they read them while taking them to their trash can) is the job of good staffers and the result of large amounts of cash.
We will see if 2008 is the year to break the hold on “staff and cash”, but I don’t think it will be.
Good example of learning .... well, what *I* would consider the wrong lessons from history.
Gephardt had the best organization in Iowa. Look where it got him. Dean ended up with the most cash -- a result of his message.
He had a message that voters loved, and it took him a long, long way from nothing.
What he didn't have was a candidate they thought would make a realistic president.