Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, he decides what time it is. Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door. Chuck Norris does not get frostbite, Chuck Norris bites frost.
But when Chuck Norris endorses a Presidential candidate… it doesn’t mean we skip the election entirely and just swear the guy in. Mike Huckabee is learning that firsthand.
On fire after his upset win in Iowa, Huckabee has failed to win any additional states and his campaign appears to be practically broke. Senior staff members are no longer drawing salaries, and some have been laid off. Huckabee is considered to be an afterthought in Florida, where a recent Mason-Dixon poll shows him trailing Giuliani with 15%. That puts him in fourth place.
The man that supporters and opponents alike give affectionate nicknames, such as Huckster and Huckleberry, does seem to be maintaining a loyal following among many evangelical Christians. He has also not drawn the ire of those who lean left on social issues, an impressive feat for a former pastor who has said he wants to change the Constitution to bring it in line with God’s word. Huckabee is commonly considered to be a “nice guy” and either because of his personality, or simply because he’s not considered a threat, is not generally a target for criticism from the other candidates. In fact, many are speculating that he’s at the top of a Vice-Presidential short-list for Senator John McCain, should McCain actually win the nomination.
But the chances of a President Huckabee (at least this election) are looking pretty slim at the moment, and the candidate clearly knows it.
“If the campaign doesn’t make it all the way we want to walk away completely in the black,” Huckabee said earlier this week.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:49 am
You failed to mention that…
…Huckabee is 2nd in the number of Delegates (having more than McCain).
…Huckabee WON the GOP vote in S.C….McCain winning by self-admitted Dems voting for him (even so Huckabee won the whole northern part of the state).
…after Super Tuesday, Huckabee stands to gain over 300 delegates (twice that of McCain).
…there are other Florida polls and you chose the most extreme trailing number for Huckabee.
Your bias (and lack of objectivity) is showing.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:20 am
According to CNN’s count, Huckabee is third behind McCain and Romney in terms of delegates.
I am biased, this article includes some opinion, and you shouldn’t expect unbiased journalism on a site called Conservative Pulse.
No idea what you’re talking about in terms of 300 delegates after Super Tuesday or whatever.
And finally, the poll is right in line with others. The Real Clear Politics average of polls shows Huckabee at 15.4% and a poll from Survey USA today showed him at 14%. He’s trailing in fourth place in every major polls, that’s a fact.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:04 am
It is well known by now that Dr. Paul (who has written 6 books on economics) and stands head and shoulders over the other candidates as an economist. Why do you think the ‘cool’ candidates denigrate him (except for Huckabee who copies his homework)? Every other candidate speaks in vague generalities.
Dr. Paul WILL put thousands of REAL dollars in YOUR pocket. Wanna see how?
Dr. Paul’s 4 point economic stimulus plan even includes legislation and is viewable online. Just click on my name!
January 26th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Huckabee may not be the most likely candidate to win, but he is not completely out of the running yet.
First of all, he does have a core of very committed supporters. He represents several important but underrepresented groups in the conservative movement: the social conservatives; the FairTax advocates; the “crunchy cons”, and conservatives who believe in fair trade. He also has very strong crossover appeal due to his non-Republican lingo… though at this point it has hurt him more than it has helped him.
Even though the proposals he embraces are practical conservative solutions overall, some felt uncomfortable with his rhetoric and thus became easy prey to misleading attacks on Huckabee that seemed to confirm their uneasiness. Thus, although many objective analyses on their records and positions place Huckabee close to or even to the right of Romney (see OnTheIssues.org for a good example), he has already been branded a “liberal” or even a “socialist” in many conservative circles.
Nevertheless, as someone who myself is in touch with a large part of the “conservative pulse,” I think there is still a chance for a comeback for Huckabee. He does have strong support in a lot of southern states. Although the conservative “conventional wisdom” about him has started to gel, I am seeing signs that he has started to chip through this barrier.
Duncan Hunter’s endorsement of Huckabee is a good example. Mr. Border Fence himself endorsed someone that the pundits have decided was “Mr. Open Borders.” How could that be? Could it possibly be that Huckabee’s immigration plan, and his commitment to it, is actually solid enough to win over the man for whom this was THE main driving issue?
In the Florida debate, too, Huckabee showed he was both fiscally conservative yet practical about how to stimulate the economy. Even many of his critics, to their own consternation, found themselves agreeing with his idea to improve the infrastructure rather than just put money in the pockets of people who would likely spend it in ways that won’t necessarily stimulate the economy. Some pointed out that this would provide a short-term boost to the economy and a long-term improvement as well.
The challenge for Huckabee is to finish demolishing this wall of lies that has been erected in the minds of too many conservatives. It may not happen in time for him to win in Florida, but many voters are steadily coming around to see him as he really is, in spite of the pundits. In South Carolina for example, he comfortably won the vote of self-identified conservative voters.
If his supporters do not flake out on him, and if he continues to break through the misconceptions, he will still be a force to reckon with in plenty of key states on February 5th.