Posted on 11/24/2015 9:09:21 AM PST by Engraved-on-His-hands
It's been said to me a number of times from Republican activists of every stripe. Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, both former Iowa caucus winners, just don't have it this time around, and thus, they should take the cue and get out of the Republican race for president.
In the poll-driven presidential campaign that has also been overly nationalized, I completely understand why this sort of thinking is prevalent in Iowa less than three months before people will head out to caucus. While the size of the Republican field has been reduced, it's still large and cumbersome. And after watching candidates burn-bright for a short period of time before eventually flaming out in the last presidential cycle, voters are taking a more wait-and-see approach to the 2016 race.[snip]
In recent weeks, I've seen many political pundits, some even from Iowa, suggest that Texas Senator Ted Cruz is the odds on favorite to win the Iowa caucuses. It is true that Cruz has momentum, and recent polls confirm that. Cruz has also had solid debate performances. More importantly, in the last debate, he was the only social conservative to make the main stage. Cruz recently earned the endorsement of Congressman Steve King. At the same time, the social conservative field contracted with the exit of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. And let's not forget that the Cruz campaign and associated Super PACs are flush with cash.[snip]
At the FAMiLY Leader's Presidential Family Forum on Friday evening, it was Huckabee and Santorum who really shined, not Cruz. It's not that Cruz didn't do well for himself, it's that both Huckabee and Santorum did a particularly good job in the less formal setting where candidates were not limited to 30-second answers and rebuttals.
(Excerpt) Read more at theiowarepublican.com ...
Their problem for those two is that Cruz has evangelical credentials AND the rest of the conservative credentials. Hugeabee and Santorum only have evangelical credentials (and in the case of Hugeabee and his love of pardoning criminals, even that’s questionable).
Mike Huckabee is an entirely different animal, however. A lot of people who buy in his social gospel vision of open borders and big government in your pockets as well as your bedroom might defect to him if Rubio fizzles big time.
Exactly what you said, but I probably would not have said it as well.
They’re out.
Just like Jeb.
Just like Kasich.
all of them are out.
It’s between Trump, Rubio and Cruz.
Craig... get some sleep.
Huckabee, Santorum...?
Yikes.
I sure hope you have a five year salary contract, because if this is the best you can do, you’re walking on vapor...
This fellow, Robinson, for what ever his reasons, doesn’t like Ted Cruz a lick. I’ve read his articles. I think he was once head of Iowa-GOP, maybe he’s an establishment type. .
Interesting, in the Q poll, among evangelicals the favorables go like this (Cruz 77/11) (Huck 71-20) and Rick (56-23).
It’s only one poll, but I was surprised that Rick was that low.
I think the GOPe is going to have to face the choice of backing either Trump or Cruz or trying to sabotage things being the scenes, because once Carson fades, Rubio has even less going for him to keep him from doing likewise.
Most of Trump's political positions are quite Romneyesque if you examine them closely. This is why I think most of the GOPe will eventually, but grudgingly back him rather than sit back and/or sabotage.
Recall that they eventually saw Reagan as inevitable and decided a VP pick and a few cabinet appointments was better than being frozen out completely.
Huckabee’s true calling is TV, not politics.
Perhaps co-hosting a revival of Hee-Haw?
Huckabee and Santorum are low-budget hangers-on.
Santorum did eek out an Iowa win in 2012 and he came in 2nd in the GOP primaries race — with 12%.
Huckabee took the Iowa win in 2008.
If either did win the 2016 Iowa caucus, they would join that other non-incumbent 2 time winner — Bob Dole.
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GW Bush won the Iowa caucus in 2000. He is the only caucus winner who went on to win the presidency in the same year.
GHW Bush won Iowa in 1980, but Reagan went to the White House.
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Iowa Caucus is just not a very good predictor of who will win the Republican primaries.
Which brings up an important side question. Why aren't all of the Hee-Haw episodes available on DVD? It was a popular, funny, and gentle show. Yet only highlight collections are available.
Perhaps Huckabee could lead a movement in this regard. That would be a great use of his time.
RFD-TV was showing complete episodes of Hee-Haw on Sunday nights. If I had to guess why complete episodes are not on DVD I’d have to say music licensing issues (i.e. for every copyrighted song performed on the program there is now a lawyer seeking a cut of the DVD sales).
Huckleberry and Santorum can go home. Good guys but not presidential.
Pleeze! If anybody but Trump wins it will be Cruz.
I think you are right. This is a Cruz v. Trump contest.
true about late deciders....but they ain’t going to either of those two....
True, SC is much more valid predictor.....meaning that Republicans who win SC Primary are the only Republicans who win the General.
I don’t understand why some folks don’t understand just how CONSERVATIVE in every respect, Rick Santorum is:
“Here are his ratings from when he was in Congress:
American Conservative Union — 88%
National Right to Life Committee — 100%
Americans for Tax Reform — 95%
National Tax Limitation Committee — 92%
U.S. Chamber of Commerce — 88%
League of Private Property Voters — 94%
Now remember, this is Santorum’s House ratings, in a DEMOCRAT district. How many Republicans in Democrat areas vote this conservative?”
excerpt http://www.redstate.com/wosg/2012/01/06/rick-santorum-yes-he-is-a-true-conservative/
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