Huckabee Rising

WASHINGTON -- It is incredible to this newspaper that Mike Huckabee, the most conservative of the Republican candidates and a man of faith - former pastor - has not been 'accepted' by the GOP establishment as 'their man.' Truly, his conservative credentials are impeccable. Iowa, however, has slowly come to grips with the realization that this former Arkansas governor is the one candidate that will carry the Republican maxim of low taxes, controlled spending and - more importantly - smaller government.

For all the 'sexiness' that other candidates like Rudy (his New York anti mafia stances) and Mitt (his good looks) may have, they lack the credentials that this former governor from a GOP bastion like Arkansas has. Recent poll numbers in Iowa have Huckabee trailing Romney by only 2 percentage points amongst likely Republican caucus goers at 26%-24%, respectively (see polls). Just three months ago, Romney led him by 13 percentage points. If Huckabee were to win in Iowa and fishish a strong second or third in New Hampshire - which is more than possible - then the former Arkansas governor would be on the driver's seat going into Super Tuesday.

Iowa voters take their job very seriously and I very sincerely doubt that they would choose a candidate that is pro-abortion, anti-gun, and pro-gay rights (Rudy). Or a candidate that has flip flopped more times than John Kerry (Mitt). Hillary and the Clinton machine would have a much tougher time attacking a pastor from a conservative state than both Rudy and Romney. In fact, one reader mentioned how devastating an attack Hillary could launch against Giuliani. Just picture this: A black screen with the positions Rudy has taken in everything from gay rights, pro abortions, anti guns, him in drag, and then the question "How well do you know your candidate?".... that would be powerful indeed. Or, Romney's various flip flops on abortion rights and his opportunist nature. They only thing that the Hillary camp has on Huckabee is that he enjoyed one too many big macs, but then again, there's the other Clinton that enjoyed the same thing.

The bottom line is that, regardless of what the Religious Right says regarding who they're supporting, and we don't really think that they will follow Pat Robertson's lead and blindly vote for a candidate that basically is at odds with their message, Mike Huckabee will prove how viable his is. He gets their message. The question is, is the establishment ready to support him? Electability is sometimes more important than likeability. How far is the GOP willing to go? Will they sell their soul to keep the White House? Iowa will be the first test.

Update: 11/19/07 - We forgot to mention that Chuck Norris has jumped on the Huckabee bandwagon. Oh boy, this campaign will implode before it takes off!