Well, it was Huckabee in ‘08 :)
I think Huckabee was a smoother politician than Cain. Very good interpersonally and off the cuff. Puts on just enough airs. But he had a record. That was his problem.
Cain is more brash. It appears he has a high likability factor, always a plus. And he has no record, other than talking on the radio and writing some columns. So he has a much easier task in grabbing the Tea Party vote. He just has to say the right things.