President 2008: Mike Huckabee’s Baptism Versus Mitt Romney’s Mormon
RUDY Giuliani could have a couple of problems on his hands.
While millionaire Mitt Romney buys his way to the White House on one side, the New York Sun points out that a dark horse social conservative has emerged on Giuliani’s flank.
That outsider is former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, who has come from nowhere to tie Rudy Giuliani for second place in the latest Iowa poll, a crucial early state in the presidential primaries.
The University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll shows Huckabee (12.8 percent) and Giuliani (13.1 percent) statistically tied, while Romney sits way out front with 36.2 percent. Huckabee polled just 1.8 percent in a similar poll in August.
His surge is impressive considering Huckabee has spent just $1.7 million on his campaign so far, compared to Romney, who has spent $53.6 million, and Giuliani, who has spent $30.6 million.
Huckabee is one of the few Republican candidates who appeals to social conservatives. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. And he attracted more than half the votes of delegates to a recent Values Voter summit in Washington.
He is tough on immigration and tough on corporate pay. And he has the added advantage of being able to boast that he has fought the Clintons in their Arkansas backyard. Yesterday he told politico.com that he had beaten the “Clinton political machine” four times.
Nationally, Giuliani still leads the Republican pack with 20 percent in the polls. Fred Thompson and John McCain follow with 19 percent and 14 percent respectively.
But it’s Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who appear to be gaining all the traction. Watch this space.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:16 am
Huckabee is popular with Baptists and “social conservatives” but is not electable in the general election. His popularity is mostly in the Bible belt as stated above and he will not appeal to the centrists. On the other hand, Mitt Romney, who has a good handle on social as well as economic conservatives and centrists has already proven he is electable in a largely Democratic state. Huckabee might be a good vice president to Guiliani to bring the Bible thumpers in tow but then Guiliani better look out. Those red necks down south have something in those gunracks in the back of their pick up trucks and they seem hell bent on having a Baptist Minister for President.
IF
October 31st, 2007 at 2:40 am
Marcy,
How would you classify yourself? Seems bible thumper and redneck is out of the question. I would say that I probably classify as both, maybe even a Jesus freak. I would also bet that you support abortion and same sex marriage. Maybe you should ask Mr. Huckabee to spend some time with you so you can learn about the TRUTH.
Billy
October 31st, 2007 at 4:35 am
Wow, this one deteriorated quickly.
It will be fascinating to see if the evangelical and Southern Baptist congregations back an unelectable candidate (Huckabee), someone they believe is headed to Hell but lives the kind of life they espouse (Romney) or someone who embodies and believes much of what they despise theologically and politically (Giuliani) simply because they think he has the best shot at beating someone they view as evil incarnate (Clinton). Fascinating.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:57 am
Hey Curtis,
I disagree with you on one point…Huckabee is electable. 13% right now nationally in a Rasmussen poll (tied with McCain at 13% and one point behind Romney who is at 14%). Not to mention that not only in this Iowa poll is Huckabee tied for second but also a Rasmussen poll had Huckabee tied for second at 18 and Romeny was at 24%. In Arkansas he received 46% of the Black vote and won overwhelmingly in a generally democrat state. Is money donations have risen a lot (he raised more in the 6 days after the Values Voters summit than he had in his first quarter of the campaign) and with the upcoming media attention I would not doubt he rises in the polls even more. He is totally electable.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
[...] Some are late to the party; [...]
October 31st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Here’s how I see it…
1. Guillini - east coast liberal. pro-abort, pro-gay, anti-gun. Can’t win with normal republican’s base.
2. Romney - east coast liberal. Supposedly “ex” pro-abort, pro-gay, Mormon beliefs don’t play in the midwest or south (FLIP-FLOP-FLIP-FLOP)
3. McCain - His stand on Prez Bush’s “guest worker program” earlier this year…now FLIP-FLOP…need I say more? He’s the Bob Dole candidate…too old, too many attempts at office. Not a fresh face.
4. Thompson - Something creepy about a 65 yr old man (who has a 47 yr old son-born 1960) and now a 1 yr old and 3 yr old kid. His trophy-bride is younger than his oldest son….she tells him what to do and when! He’s failing fast!
5. Duncan Hunter - An excellent candidate…I love him! But, he’s so far behind in the polls…there’s no hope for him.
6. Tom Tancredo - One issue candidates never win (immigration)…again too far behind in the polls.
7. Mike Huckabee - On the social issues, he stands head and shoulder’s above the rest…after all he’s a Baptist preacher. Not afraid to share his faith to the entire nation on national tv. Not afraid to disagree with evolution on national tv. His only “chink” might be his approach to economic issues…but that’s drummed-up by elitists and rich multi-national corporate types who might suffer if the “little man” gets a fair shake. I believe Americans are sick and tired of “country club” Republicans…Millionaire Wall Street types. They want a person who understands where they live. People are SICK of having their jobs outsourced to China,Mexico,India etc. Huckabee’s fair tax will keep these jobs here. Plus Huckabee knows the Clinton’s and how they operate…he’d clean her clock in a debate!!
October 31st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
[...] President 2008: Mike Huckabee’s Baptism Versus Mitt Romney’s Anorak - RUDY Giuliani could have a couple of problems on his hands. While millionaire Mitt Romney buys his way to the White House on one side, the New York Sun points out that a dark horse social conservative has emerged on Giuliani’s flank. That outsider [...]
November 10th, 2007 at 4:08 am
I, for my part, would love to see a Romney/Huckabee ticket. Both of these men have lived good, clean, moral lives and both have excellent executive experience. They share the same values! I think the Clinton smear machine would be hard pressed to dig up any dirt on either of them and with Harry Reed (the head idiot in the Senate) being a Mormon and Democrat - Romney’s religion would become a moot point with them. Afterall, the dems wouldn’t want to knock one of their own.
I am a Latter-day Saint and would be the first to say that Reed is a total embarrasment to my faith (much the same way that Clinton and Carter were an embarrasment to theirs). While I prefer Mitt to be POTUS in the matchup the other way would thrill me too. Let’s just make sure that we don’t have to put up with Hillary for four years. PLEASE!
November 10th, 2007 at 4:47 am
While it is true that Mitt Romney is spending a lot of money, to say that he is buying “his way to the White House” is a poor excuse for the many people who have listened to him and like his “concepts” on growth of the private sector (the goose that lays golden eggs) and control of the spender (Washington). If we’re to have a more positive direction where responsbility lies with the individual, than we would do well to vote Romney in. Otherwise, you get more of the same.
November 18th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Hickabee and Romney are not electable period. Whatever you may say about Rudy, his tract record can’t be discounted, period on that one too. Personally I do like Rudy and know he’ll make a great leader. Strong on terror is his biggest advantage, and out greatest fear or issue should be the war on terror. I’d like to see a Rudy/Hunter ticket. Hunter is a true conservative but has had no coverage, so is unelectable also. I like tancredo also and would love to see him head Homeland Security.