Posted on 12/06/2010 7:35:06 AM PST by Hawk720
Dial down the deafening Sarah Palin buzz for just a moment: The most consequential decision in the 2012 Republican presidential sweepstakes could be whether Mike Huckabee decides to run again – and associates say the former Arkansas governor may well take the plunge.
If Huckabee gets in, he will unquestionably be a force to be reckoned with in the fight for the nomination. He’d be the undisputed frontrunner in lead-off Iowa, where he won by nine points in 2008. He’d be the candidate to beat in South Carolina, which he narrowly lost to John McCain two years ago in part because of a divided conservative vote. His weekly Fox show, thrice-daily radio program and Grisham-like ability to crank out a book-per-year has given him a direct media presence akin to Palin’s – but without the sky-high negatives.
And should Huckabee stay out, it would create a vacuum on the right among both religious conservatives and tea party activists that would significantly re-order the race and potentially create a larger opening for Palin. He polls well with self-identified evangelicals, women and low-income voters – all blocs that also favor Palin. And a PPP poll conducted last month found that 34 percent of Huckabee supporters said that Palin is their second choice.
Yet a potential Huckabee candidacy has been little discussed, in part because of his place well outside the Republican establishment, and in part because of a conventional wisdom that he’s enjoying his current career and income too much to risk it on a run.
Huckabee, for one, is tired of being left out of the conversation and sounds increasingly like a candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
It's not like Huckabee is the only Christian in the race. Having said that, we need someone with some courage to save the country ... While I would hope that a President would believe in and abide by Christian principles, the atmosphere of the country right now needs a warrior, not a peacemaker ... I don't believe that Huckabee is the man for the job. [emphasis mine]I like your commentary, but I would add that the country right now needs a Catholic warrior, one who partakes in the sacraments frequently! using them to do battle against a very dark administration. And that Christian warrior, to me anyway, is Bobby Jindal. Of course, with everyone else tossing their hats into the ring (and I would probably vote for Huck over Palin; I think ultimately a man should run the country), there's not much room for Jindal, although still maintaining a 28-inch waist, maybe he can slip in there anyway.
I’d love to see Palin do a Lincoln-Douglas debate. :)
That is among the most interesting statements I have read on FR in a long time. You may receive thirty lashes for speaking wisdom.
He is actually a good debater. His performance in the debates is the reason he was in the mix in 2008. He started out as an unknown with less than 1%.
It’s the reason I support the FairTax, which is a whole lot better than just cutting a few taxes here and there and making winners and losers. It’s the reason that a completely new tax approach is really preferable because it empowers everyone in the economy, those from the top to the bottom. But the people at the bottom actually end up getting the best deal out of the fair tax. So I hope more people will start looking at it and realizing that’s the direction we really need to go."
~Mike Huckabee
Source: CNN Late Edition: 2008 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer Feb 3, 2008
You are incorrect.......the Sarah Alaska show actually rebounded with a 3.5 million viewers for the 3rd week....the second week had so many things on the TV on that Sunday...it’s the highest rated show ever on TLC.
Palin comes with a huge ego which I don’t see in Huckabee ... She at the same time seems like a more revengeful person
Mike Huckabee: I don't want to use the word 'conspiracy' (but I just did)
Huckabee's humility ... (and evidence that the MSM REALLY wants this guy to be the GOP nominee in order to lose)
Exactly. Then the candidate anointed by the media and 'independents' (Democrats) will grab the brass ring. Watch that open GOP primary in New Hampshire...
Respect is earned Huckster.
“She’d wipe the floor with Douglas. “
Let’s first see her take out a lesser-weight like Katie Couric.
Folks,
If Sarah Palin is serious to get elected beyond the conservative base, she needs to go and articulate some policies. If she is serious about running, Sarah Palin should go and destroy people like Katie Couric. Yes she can spend her time with conservative media people but now and then she also needs to get to 2 or 3 mainstream media people and reach out to the broader independents. She also better have a good explanation for leaving the governor’s mansion within 2 years. Bottom line, let us face it that, she has to redefine little bit of her image with independents.
If Sarah does not run, I think, Huckabee can be a formidable candidate. He has lot of executive experience, his negatives are very low and he can articulate the policies very well. In addition to all the southern states, he can get Ohio, Pennsylvania and even michigan.
Where's Bob Dole when we need him?
Huckabee? Not for me! New bumper sticker.
I’ll say this for Huck and for any Repub who wants to be president. What is the winning strategy?
Go after O and the Obamists hammer and tong, get them by the lapels and don’t let up. Find every opportunity to point out the disaster that awaits us at the end of this road, and do not hesitate to call them out boldly on a daily basis from now until they are gone.
Do that, and you will be president. The problem is, you’re about two years late coming to the party, some of you, but late is better than never. Some of our Repubs think the winning strategy is attacking their Repub rivals. That might be good politics in other elections, but we’re too close to the buzz saw for that kind of thing now. Go after Obama, and people will support you all the way right into the White House.
Huck couldn’t debate Alan Dershowitz on his show.
I don’t want the liberal media to pick our candidate and I don’t want Mike Huckabee. I don’t think he is presidential material. His show is even becoming unwatchable. Saturday, his show started with two liberal women. (where’s the fair and balanced there?) Then Joe Trippi, another liberal. Jane Seymour, the actress, came on. Not sure if she is a D or R. The only watchable part was Wilson-Phillips singing a Christmas song.
IMO, we need Sarah Palin or Mike Pence, not Huckabee, who is already starting to whine about not getting enough attention.
For example, I think Mitt Romney should be disqualified because of his poltical track record only (Massachusetts health care), not his religion. I can name you a bunch of Mormons who have served well in public office without Mitt's political baggage.
Huck, on the other hand, can be disqualified because of his religion because he used it as a reason to make poor political choices-- the Willie Horton pardons and access to state funds for illegal aliens being two prime examples. Likewise, I can name you a bunch of Baptists who have served well in public office without Huck's political baggage created under the cover of his religion.
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