[xjcsa]

Did the Huckabee voters seem informed on the issues? What seemed to be their reason for supporting him?

They're informed on abortion and gay marriage; they consider everything else kind of secondary until you explain just what a nanny-stater Huckabee is, and they still stay with him, usually. They support him because he's strongly pro-life, and because he's an evangelical like them. It really is identity politics like Rush says; they identify with him and don't care that he's basically a pro-life John Edwards.

What were their impressions of Fred?

Fred is the second choice for most of them; if the caucuses were still a few weeks away Huck would probably lose a fair number of votes to Thompson.

These are the folks Fred needs. Just a few of them.

Yep. I should also note that the Huckabee people tend to despise Romney; they *really* don't like him at all. But they like Thompson.

[rightinthemiddle]

Excellent observations...you have done a fantastic job hosting the results thread and such.

I have an ad agency...we do market research and focus groups as well. Much can be learned by listening and asking the right questions.

The candidates had better learn something from Iowa, cuz the Northeast is NOT going to carry a Republican to victory.

[WOSG]

“Yep. I should also note that the Huckabee people tend to despise Romney; they *really* don’t like him at all. But they like Thompson.”

Do they have an aversion to Romney’s faith? It seems that the majority of obsessive-compulsive Mitt-bashers think “Mormonism is a cult” is a top issue for 2008. How much of that is a factor, since this is ‘identity politics’?

[rightinthemiddle]

You said if the caucuses had been a few weeks away, many of them probably would have voted for Fred.

That is very important for South Carolina.

Fred has time to make the case while hoping these voters learn more about Huckabee.

They are NOT going to make quick decisions.

[bruinbirdman]

"Fred is the second choice for most of them; if the caucuses were still a few weeks away Huck would probably lose a fair number of votes to Thompson."

And the media knows this. Fred was the choice in Iowa.

Huckabee's issues were never examined by the press. They knew Fred would have won Iowa if prople knew about the Huckster.

yitbos

[Route66]

Fred is the second choice for most of them; if the caucuses were still a few weeks away Huck would probably lose a fair number of votes to Thompson. These are the folks Fred needs. Just a few of them. Yep. I should also note that the Huckabee people tend to despise Romney; they *really* don't like him at all. But they like Thompson.

Thanks for the report. I think you are right about the timing in relation to how the votes lined up. Even one more week might have made a huge difference., but these primary/caucus schedules just keep moving forward.

Still, that fact is really quite encouraging. Huckabee's national numbers have fallen greatly and will continue to fall in the weeks ahead. Most of that support won't flow to Romney. It's good news overall.

Thanks again for supporting Fred and for taking the time to report back to us.

[Aristotelian]

They're informed on abortion and gay marriage; they consider everything else kind of secondary until you explain just what a nanny-stater Huckabee is, and they still stay with him, usually. They support him because he's strongly pro-life, and because he's an evangelical like them. It really is identity politics like Rush says; they identify with him and don't care that he's basically a pro-life John Edwards.

Very insightful and informative. Thanks. It makes me think Iowa and the Huckster may be a one-time deal -- that he can't expect evangelicals to dominate the polls like this anywhere else.