Most Americans, indeed most votors do not focus on world events or politics the way freepers do. I have heard any number of people this past week asking vague questions about the candidates. people who, while clueless now about who's record id what about their issues will find out before their Primary.
The extended voting season incites the passions of the politically active class, and gives them time to build up ammo against the rivals they most despise, but the real game just had it's opening move. Nothing of lasting import has been decided yet, save that fatal political rounds have been loaded into the attack canons regarding a few. Huckabee's showing was due to having not been taken seriously enough for his opponents to chamber a shell.