Mike Huckabee is selling himself as a candidate based on his social agenda and the religious beliefs that guide it. That played well in Iowa where evangelicals essentially handed Huckabee a victory. But Iowa is not representative of America as a whole, and the Huckabee campaign is not looking forward to the primary in New Hampshire where the state motto is “live free or die.”
Huckabee promised to compete in New Hampshire, but his weak standing there might force him to turn his attention to South Carolina’s primary on Jan. 19, where a strong religious community could help him repeat his Iowa success. In dozens of interviews in New Hampshire this week, few voters indicated support for Huckabee.
His aides are wary of New Hampshire. “It’s all no tax, no government there,” said Bob Wickers, a top strategist. “It’s not ideal.”
No, it’s not ideal at all for a populist turkey like Huckabee. But the Huckster’s people are hoping his populist sermons will win out for him among the victimized folk of Michigan and South Carolina.
But they believe that the message of economic anxiety that he preaches will help in Michigan’s primary on Jan. 15 and in states in the South, which have high poverty rates in addition to strong groups of social conservatives.
Call me crazy, but isn’t pandering and playing the victim card how liberals win elections? By the way, speaking of liberals, Hillary Clinton isn’t exactly getting a warm reception in New Hampshire either.
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Comments: 20
His populist, evangelical rhetoric of victimology isn't what the republicans need.
jJack, I disagree the guy Huck is no sheep, more like a snake.
I'm with Jason on this.
Romney actually imbodies more Conservative values than the other Republican candidates on the list, so I can guarantee a Michigan victory for Romney.
Romney wqins NH.
Mccain mccain mccain. I keep hearing how he won NH in 2000. Mitt Romney wasn't his opponent in 2000. I'm thinking that voters in NH next week will finally say to Mccain "you know what....we've had enough.....take your amnesty and go back to AZ."
"He doesn't have any votes coming based on his policies."
Well gee I hope you're not voting for Obama then Tim because he doesn't have any votes based on policies either. Just empty rhetoric andpolitical theatre.
I don't know for certain but I hope that New Hampshire will give the rest of the nation a much needed wakeup call with regard to Mr. Obama. I never thought I would be rooting for Hillary to win but I will be pulling for next Tuesday in the Dem race. Both because Obama is starting to annoy me as much as she does and because I think she would be much easier to beat in the general.
Thoughts?
I still like McCain and his realistic immigration policies, but he is a Republican and they have had their turn. It is time to clean house!
Another thing that cracks me up is all this flap over Hillary's "experience". Umm....WHAT? She was FIRST LADY, people! She never even had security clearance while in the White House. How many pieces of legislation have her name on them? Looks like a mighty ROUND number. So she travelled a little bit and had tea with a few diplomats....THAT'S supposed to pass as "experience"?! She hasn't DONE ANYthing!
On the other hand, Ron Paul has served 10 terms as an elected official. TEN TERMS. One doesn't get re-elected that many times if people hate what you're doing. He's been studying economics his whole life while Hillary's been studying....what is it she's an "expert" in???
Ron Paul's experience and consistency trumps Hillary's any day of the week.
Hillary couldn't answer a simple question on drivers' licenses early on and she's supposed to be able to RUN THE COUNTRY??!! I hate to break it to her, but it's gonna get a LOT tougher than THAT, Honey.
I would have had SOME measure of respect for Hillary if she'd given an answer I didn't like and STUCK BY IT, rather than waffling around, trying to see which way the wind is blowing today. Giving an answer and sticking to it, regardless of how unpopular that answer/position may be, is a show of strength. Ron Paul has it and Hillary doesn't. Period.
Ryan, Romney, stance on Illegal Immigration could not beat Ron Paul's stance and one he has had long before the campaign - Deport all of them. Enforce the LAW. If they want to enter our country legally fine. If they come illegally not so fine.
Isn't he, like, always talking about that Constitution thingy or something?
What a loser. You don't hear all the *serious* candidates talking about a stupid 230-year-old piece of paper. That guy Paul Ron talks like he thinks our government's actually supposed to limit itself to what it says on some dumb piece of papaer.
And I heard he actually wants us to go back to the gold standard. What a moron. Why would you want to limit how much money the government can print? Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't more money better than less money?
That guy must not know the first damn thing about economics; not wnough to be qualified to be President, anyhow.
And he wants to close up the military bases we have all around the world!
That's isolationism! How can we be a leader in the world if we just bring home all our guns and bombs and jets and tanks?
Paul Ron could never win the Republican nomination. Just because he's won about 3/4 of the GOP straw polls, and he wins all the interent polls, and he wins all the post-debate polls, and he's raised more money from more individual donors than any other Republican, and he has like 100,000 meet-up group unpiad volunteer's; doesn't mean he can win the nomination.
I mean, Fox News and CNN keep calling him a "long-shot." Why would they call him that if had a chance to win?
You guys should just support someone else who has a real shot, a real conservative like Fred Thompson or Rudy Giuliani.
"Shallow" might be a good word to describe the manner in which you read my comment.
Otherwise, you might have been able to detect the slightly-more-than-subtle level of sarcasm.
Ever heard of "satire"?
Try to keep in mind, Steve, that most "average voters" are gullible and have short memories. The OTHER candidates sure know it....in fact, they're COUNTING on it.