MotherJones Blog: Huckabee Fever: Catch It!

«--Previous Post | Blog Index | Next Post--»

Huckabee Fever: Catch It!

Mike Huckabee is the closest thing to a rock star here at the FRC's WB. He is the only candidate who actually comes from the evangelical community. (That's actually a Huckabee talking point, but it's true. He's a former Baptist minister, after all.) As I've mentioned before, Huckabee is making a strong pitch for the Brownback votes. His main competitor, Mitt Romney, spoke yesterday.

Huckabee's speech today had an anger and ferocity to it that is well outside the conventional wisdom on Huckabee. The guy who is commonly described as easygoing, warm, and funny seemed seriously pissed that the "holy word of God" is being violated, according to Huckabee, on abortion and on gay marriage. He emphasized that America needs to "make it constitutionally clear that life begins at conception" in order to end the "holocaust of liberalized abortion." Yikes.

He also railed against candidates who "lip sync" the hymnals of the evangelical Right. You listening, Rudy? And he raged against candidates who have more positions on the core issues than "Elvis had waist sizes." You listening, Romney?

After a sea of biblical stories, Huckabee had this core point to make: "I do not spell G-O-D as G-O-P. Our party may be important, but not as important as our principles." He urged the attendees not to conflate their loyalty to their Christian values with their loyalty to the party that most frequently represents them. If the Republican Party doesn't speak for the Christian Right, said Huckabee, stand up, do something, stay true. (When I heard that, all I could think was, "Let's go third party!")

The crowd ate it up. Can Giuliani win this nomination without the evangelical vote? Can Huckabee win it without anything else?

Photo courtesy of mikehuckabeeismyhomeboy.com.

Comments

The fact of the matter is that Huckabee can and never will win the general election. So if you would like to throw dollars and time away supporting a lost cause go for it! If by some chance Huckabee manages to get the prejudices of the religous right wired up enough to win the Republican nomination, all it will mean is that we can all start preparing for the Hillary presidency. She will eat him alve.

Posted by: David Glick on 10/20/07 at 2:02 PM Respond

You have to remember that Mike Huckabee was a Republican who won in democratic state and also won with a large percent of the minority population. To infer that he only has support from the conservatives is naive. He has the ability to rally the base and also attract independents and democrats.

For those who think he will be eaten alive by anyone is foolish. He is probably the BEST candidate with the BEST chance to win against Hillary.

Posted by: Bob Morrison on 10/20/07 at 5:29 PM Respond

Huckabee will win, here's how it will go down:

...you may be missing a key point here. Given Rudy's emerging ethical problems stemming from all things Kerik, the last thing he needs right now are for the evangelical base to think they can unite behind a true believer in the fast rising Huckabee. Yes, Romney has money and organization, but he is blowing through that cash at a high rate. And a large part of Romney's evangelical support results from being seen as the less-than-perfect but most likely Anyone But Rudy candidate. But if Huckabee suddenly emerges as a real alternative for the remaining uncommitted evangelicals to unite behind, then Giuliani may find himself with a re-energized evangelical base opposing him, especially after Rudy loses both Iowa and New Hampshire as they head south. If Dobson and the rest of the uncommitted evangelical leadership feel Huckabee gives them a new chance to control the nomination, then the GOP race shifts.

Posted By: Steve Soto (November 14, 2007 at 3:53 PM)
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2007/11/14/could-huckabee-actually-win-iowa.aspx

Posted by: monique alponte on 11/18/07 at 2:48 AM Respond

Mike Huckabee is the only true conservative standing; not to mention that he is a great orator. Because the left is so emotion driven, Huckabee will not only win the right; he will win the left. He is the only one who has defeated the Clinton machine 4 times, and he will run circles around Obama. I am afraid McCain will lead us to the left not to mention that he will put us to sleep during the General Election thus handing the left the win.

Posted by: Ray on 02/09/08 at 7:09 AM Respond