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Huckabee's Power Surge
Brian Snyder / Reuters
The 2008 also-ran is suddenly the hottest Republican in the 2012 presidential field. Bush adviser Mark McKinnon, who's chronicling the race for The Daily Beast, talks with Mike Huckabee’s top strategist.
Mike Huckabee is the dark horse no longer. In a poll released last week of potential 2012 Republican candidates, Huckabee led the list with 40 percent of voters overall and 71 percent of Republicans who would seriously consider voting for him, followed by Mitt Romney (39/65 percent), Sarah Palin (33/65 percent), Newt Gingrich (29/60 percent), Tim Pawlenty (18/32 percent) and Haley Barbour (15/26 percent).
He has the highest rated weekend cable political show, he’s just published a new book, his PAC is flush and he’s on the stump campaigning for Republican candidates.
All that sends him to the top of my picks for the 2012 field.
“Somebody said, ‘Your decision to stay in Iowa so much was just brilliant.’ And I said, ‘The fact is, we had enough money to fly to Iowa. We just didn’t have enough money to fly back, so we stayed there for awhile.’”
The race for the Republican nomination could very easily come down to Huckabee vs. Mitt Romney. The question will be whether Tim Pawlenty can get enough traction to split votes with Romney. But no matter how hard those two try, they won’t be able to peel away many social and Christian conservatives from Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister who talks their talk and walks their walk. He’s a great communicator and could easily expand his appeal beyond the narrow but enthusiastic base of support he attracted in 2008. If Sarah Palin runs, however, she’ll split votes with Huckabee and it will be a free for all which could create some fascinating dynamics in the early primary states. And there is, of course, still plenty of time for a fresh face to show up and shake things up. Knock, knock John Thune.
Here’s how they stand, by my reckoning, three years from election week 2012.
1. Mike Huckabee
2. Mitt Romney
3. Tim Pawlenty
4. Sarah Palin
5. Newt Gingrich
6. John Thune
7. Haley Barbour
8. Mitch Daniels
9. Joe Scarborough
10. Rick Santorum
To figure out how Huck has vaulted to the front, I caught up with his 2008 campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, the funny, wise-cracking quipster who appeared to be everywhere for Huckabee in the last campaign. At times it seemed like the entire campaign staff was just Huckabee and Saltsman. As a frontrunner now, Huckabee will have the luxury of raising more money, hiring more staff, and being taken very seriously this time around.
I caught up with Saltsman by phone in his home state of Tennessee.
So give me just a quick 60 seconds on the last presidential [race]. What’s your summary of that contest and Huckabee’s role in it?
I think Huckabee’s role from the very beginning was a long-shot dark horse. He was able to connect in a way that not many have connected with the American people in a long time. On a parallel path, it was the same on Obama’s side. He was able to connect in a way that we haven’t seen in quite awhile. People were excited about it. It was an election where it wasn’t the greatest election to be a Republican. I’ve always said at the end of the day that at the primary part of it, we like to elect those people that have run before. John McCain had definitely done that. If you look back, we haven’t had a guy that hasn’t run before since Eisenhower. (I kind of put an asterisk in front of George W. Bush because he was running for his father’s second term.) Everybody else had run before, had done the right work. [McCain’s] a guy that deserves it, he’s worked hard, he’s a great American hero. I think that’s ultimately what took him over the finish line.
So tell us about what Huckabee’s up to today?
He’s actually in Tennessee. He’s doing some book signings in Memphis and I’m going to see him tonight in Nashville.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono.
Myra Adams is a media producer, writer and political observer. Her media clients have included national associations, political interest groups and corporations. She was on the creative team with Mark McKinnon that created the now infamous John Kerry "Windsurfing" ad for the Bush 2004 presidential campaign and served on the McCain Ad Council during the 2008 McCain campaign. Myra's web site www.TheJesusStore.com contributes all profits to Christian charity.
jaydeekay
LOL!
This is a funny article...
Johnnyappleseed
The name should be Huckster, not Huckabee
bcaldwell
Note to the libs: Don't be dismissive of Huck, he's a little different than a lot of the Republicans that are out there. He ran on a bit more of a populist message than the rest which did not endear himself at the time to either the moderates or the conservatives. He ran on a shoestring budget as well and was able to garner a good bit of delegates.
Actually, none other than Bill Clinton himself has said that Huckabee is someone we all should look out for and he said that during the 2008 primaries. He's religious and a former Baptist minister, but he does not hit you over the head with it and he's quick on his feet in an extemptoraneous setting. He'll make the Republican primaries a lot more interesting this time around if he decides to run.
All that being said though, the Republicans need a new face and not another also ran. I would go younger. I would look at a Scarborough or a Paul Ryan from Wisconsin....especially Ryan, when it comes to economics issues he may be the smartest guy in the room. He's a regular on CNBC and he truly understands a lot of this stuff that other politicians THINK they know.
jus1drun
my vote for obama was situational, who else was there to vote for? mccain works best as a war hero, leave it at that. normally i would never vote for the most left of the dem party nor for that matter would i vote for the most right of the repubs. i'm not enamored with true believers.
that said, i agree with you huck can be very engaging. he's got the clinton charm minus the cigar. if he sells something with a broad appeal and is elected at least we know this charmer will have his attention on the job.
Johnnyappleseed
Actually McAmensty, was a war prisoner, not a war hero.
jaydeekay
I didn't make my final decision to vote for Obama until Palin was brought on the ticket.
Although, to be honest, I don't know what McCain could have done to get my vote.
He had it had he gotten the nomination in 2000. Instead I voted Libertarian in that election.
sophia5
" he's got the clinton charm minus the cigar "
I'm not getting the whole Huckabee " charm " angle. I don't see it.
I see a nice man, a plain " Awww Shucks " country boy,
devoid of ANY charisma, and not very " Presidential. "
Like a lumpy character out of " Hee Haw. "
Does he not remind people of Jim Nabors ? Gomer Pyle ?
Romney gives off a much more determined Presidential vibe,
and will be taken more seriously.
easton
appleseed, McCain was a war hero, he was offered the chance for early release as a propaganda tool and said no, even though he had already been tortured repeatedly and knew it would mean more. That is hero in my book.
I like Huckabee. Any Republican that can call the Club for Growth the Club for greed gets credit in my book.
floridabob
I will vote again for Obama. He, at least, is trying to move this nation forward in many areas. The real problem we have, and have had for several decades that I know of, is Congress. Example, Health care reform. Both parties agree that it MUST be done, and have for a long time. Yet, NEITHER party wants to see reform even started, while under the other party's watch. Political reasons to be sure. Result, nothing gets done! Maybe this time there MAY be something, but it will most surely be a less than optimal beginning. This time, as it is most times, the GOP is doing the stalling and disengaging in the process. It is not just the GOP, the Democrats are just as guilty. Result, the American people continue to pay in money, destroyed dreams and even lives. So, my opinion is -- Congress is at fault by not representing US in virtually all of the National issues we, the people, have to face. I don't know where we go from here, I fear for my daughter and grandchildren.
ideblasi
It amazes me how anyone can accept the government making any decisions for each of us. Would you ask your neighbor to make decisons as to which doctor to see? Then why would you ask the government? Your neighbor might actually be able to make a better decision. Lets all wise up and take control of our own lives instead of looking for entitlements. Each time you look for an entitlement you enslave someone else, since they will be forced to pay. Haven't we had enough of slavery yet?
crypto
floridabob: Everyone should be extremely concerned.. The stimulus bill has proven to be nothing more than a slush fund for congress and the whitehouse. I have a copy of the cap and trade bill but it's too long to post here. Everyone should read it though It will change just about everybody's life and the cost factor to the individual is unbelievable. The health care plan will emerge. But it's what Pelosi and her cronies have hidden in the final bill that will change just about everyone's mind. When Mr Obama said he was going to redistribute the wealth he meant it. A real modern day Robin Hood.
dave1963x
Dude, what about freedom? don't you see Obama wants a far different America than what made us great? America has stood for the idea that you can work hard, save your money, go into biz. and get really rich. Under Obama, he is gonna take half or more of your money anyway. Why work hard! Just sit back, do your 40 hours and take what the man gives you? Spread the wealth around is not America. I fear we arelosing what made us great. Thank-you.
floridabob
Oh, I forgot, must be my age. Anyway, I don't see any reason that Huckabee would be any better. I like the direction Obama is trying, but the President has relatively little to do with affect any real change. He/She would need Congressional support.
Chuckv
I agree with everything bcaldwell wrote.
Huckabee is a really nice guy. There is no Republican I would rather have a beer with--excuse me--a ginger ale with as he doesn't drink. But when he was on the Daily Show, Jon Stewart asked him if he believed in evolution. He made a smart reply that he believed in "devolution." Some of use are getting closer to being apes. It went over well, but he avoided the question in a typical politician's fashion.
He does not believe in evolution. Anyone that ignorant of modern science is too ignorant to be president. Despite his real concern for people, he has drunk the Republican kool-ade on health care. A bible school does not really prepare one to be president. There is nothing to suggest that he has meditated deeply on American history or the Constitution since then. I am afraid he would be eaten alive by cynical foreign diplomats. (I remember Jimmy Carter, another naive nice guy saying that he never really understood the duplicity of the USSR until they marched into Afghanistan while assuring him they were doing no such thing.)
Never the less I would prefer him to any other Republican. His heart is in the right place. He is not a blithering idiot like Palin. He is not a complete phony like Romney.
shortcourse
so...he doesn't believe in evolution...i don't believe in vampires...will that change anything in the grand scheme of getting american jobs...getting cheaper insurance for health care...stop the insane congressional spending...educate our kids and stop supporting the incompetent teachers union....Huckabee is a realist...he is a minister but he doesn't wear it on his sleeve unless asked...I would choose Huckabee to do the right thing in governing situations...and...he's not a bad bass player.
Johnnyappleseed
Nor does a community activist prepare one for president...uh..present!
AlanD2
shortcourse: Vampires are not real. Evolution is real. Belief has nothing to do with it.
People who don't understand the difference should not be President of the U.S.
(Or posters on the DB, for that matter.)
AlanD2
Johnnyappleseed: If you were correct (you're not), Obama would be doing a terrible job as President.
He's doing just fine, with lots of legislation passed, health care reform looking promising, and approval ratings above 50%. And he's vastly improved America's relations with other countries. Not bad for less than a year in office.
DavidE7
Huckabee went through college in 2.5 years. He is far brighter than any of his political rivals, with the possible exception of Barack Obama. His view on evolution is an informed one: he believes that God created the heavens and the earth, but has no idea how he did it, or how he took to do it. His judgment about people is good enough that he would surround himself with the right foreign policy experts, as Reagan did. Huckabee would make a great President.
dave1963x
Evolution is not something you can recreate. That would make it a fact, it is a theory. written by a man who did not have the knowledge we have today. Looks more and more unlikly earth happened by random changes over time. Some intelligent force created us. Only a fool would say, we made ourselves. thank-you.
misha1000
"Vampires are not real. Evolution is real."
Jesus and Mary is based on the goddess Isis and her son Horus. Hercules was the son of Zeus, and a human woman.
Huckabee is a bible thumping idiot.
pennsykid2000
This is an amazingly vacuous article. It reflects what was totally wrong about the coverage of the last several elections--totally about the horse race and not at all about the policy positions of the candidate. Nowhere could you see what Huckabee stands for, in regard to health care reform, Afghanistan or Iraq, the economy, etc., etc. You wouldn't know from this article that he believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible, for example, and dismisses evolution. I'd say that's pretty critical to know about a candidate for the most powerful position in the world.
Diogenes-in-OR
Thank you very much, pennsy - no insulting, no name calling, just taking the reporter to task for failing to attend to the proper business of election coverage. How can the electorate cast responsible, informed votes if the media does not inform us, and allows candidates and special interests to obfuscate and sidestep.
Leary7
touche', pennsy. McKinnon is both a horse racing junkie and the most vacuous lightweight in the political world. This article barely qualifies to be published in a college daily - every question is a softball toss. It forever sickens me that Tina Brown's fetish for cute columnists allows McKinnon to pander for jobs using this site. Murrow and I.F. Stone are throwing up in their graves.
DavidE7
Huckabee does not dismiss evolution. He dismisses the atheists' interpretation of it. He believes that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, but how He did it and how long it took, he has no idea, he wasn't there.
The claim that the evidence for evolutions "proves" the non-existence of God is an intellectually dishonest one, and only those who take that approach criticize Huckabee for his.
escomments
My problem with Huckabee is he split the Conservative vote with Romney allowing McCain to become the candidate thereby sealing the doom which eventually became Obama.
I'm not saying that Romney would have won but I think his chances were way better than two liberals running against each other.
There would have been a choice.
That said, I have been watching Huckabee lately on his show. I would definitely be willing to give him a second look in 2012!
AlanD2
escomments: Romney's religion would have killed him among Christian conservatives. As is quite evident recently, conservatives would rather lose than elect somebody who is not "pure".
escomments
I somewhat agree with your point about Romney's religion however, McCain's tendency to be a Liberal killed him with Christian Conservatives. All things being equal, I think Romney would have done better.
DavidE7
Those who favored Huckabee felt that Romney kept HIM from getting the nomination. If he had, he would have out-debated Obama and been elected President. Then we would have a totally different economic policy, that would have caused great sacrifice and pain temporarily, but also the basis for a lasting recovery. Maybe he will get his chance in 2012.
AlanD2
Perhaps we will find out in 2012, escomments.
Although I'm still rooting for Palin, the Democratic dream.
Diamat
The Republican Horseman, er Horsepeople of the Apocalypse: Huckabee, Palin, Romney, and Santorum. Just what this country needs, more religious superstition, Christian babble, right-wing and near fascist public policy. Religion does poison everything.
Johnnyappleseed
Beats the alternative you espouse!
You medication is wearing off.
AlanD2
I didn't see Diamat propose an alternative, Johnnyappleseed.
Hallucinating again?
democracyforall
you wish
WestonB
"Near fascist public policy"? Please do explain.
Americain
Yeah, just what we need. We just had an idiot who jumped into a middle east war in an attempt to stave off Gog and Magog and whatever other Christian end time fantasy. You knew about that, right? How Bush called Chirac and told him it was Biblical prophecy that they should bring down Saddam Hussein? Oh it's hilarious but it was even funnier hearing how Chirac and his people were trying to figure out Bush's religiousity but ultimately I don't want another religious whack job declaring war because his invisible friend told him to do it.
kayjay
I actually find Huckabee quite likeable. He is much less corporate than his counterparts, and while I don't agree with his political views -- he at least comes across as someone who has reached them honestly.
BasPos
Huckabee has no stature beyond a decent Christian-rock bass guitar.
democracyforall
he is a good person, nice and genuine. Many of his views reflect Christian values, scary for most liberals. Don't get too wound up either way. Democrats are just looking to crucify whomever pops their head up.
It's called slander.
misha1000
"Many of his views reflect Christian values"
Yeah, like persecuting non-Christians. Google "Christian persecution anti-Semitism Wiccan", and see what you get. Evangelicals are pouring gasoline on the fire in the Middle East, so Armageddon will come. Google it.
Timothy McVeigh was a Christian terrorist. He was strongly influenced by Christian Identity, which was a factor in what he did.
democracyforall
so misha1000, you are fueling the one-sided idea that generically Christians are ipso facto persecuting and dangerous? It's all very puzzling, perhaps you have not studied the teachings of Christ and the persecutions He endured for you. Or perhaps you favor Muslim extremism; to kill all infidels or force their oppressive beliefs on you?
misha1000
@democracyforall: most of the Crusades ended in pogroms. There aren't any Jews in Portugal, because they were all burned at the stake. I was raised by survivors. Do you know anything about Kristallnacht? When Jews were expelled from Spain, they were given refuge in Constantinople, where they did not live in fear. Name one Moslem country which built a concentration camp. Read Luther's anti-Jewish sermons, which influenced the Nazis. Hitler's speeches and book were ghost written by a Roman Catholic priest.
The pogroms in Poland were worst of all. My grandmother was saved in a pogrom by being hidden in a trunk in the attic.
mcesarey
I gained a lot of respect for him when he ripped Anne Coulter a new one on his show. I don't agree with him politically and I cringe at the idea of ever having a southern baptist minister in the white house, but he is a very respectable person.
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OffenbachStutz
The Smiley Face of Christian Shock Troops.
Erock1
This would be funny if it weren't so scary. The fact that evolution has come to this makes me doubt the theory as much as Huckabee does.
DakLak
Does this mean Palin will join Huckabee as a potential V-P.
Only trouble is their sole appeal would be to the bible belt.
When he visits Palin's home he should check the view from kitvhen to see if he can see Russia, as Palin claims he can.
Johnnyappleseed
Actually Russia is only 12 miles or so from the America shore, so yes you can see Russia from Alaska.... daklak.
Diogenes-in-OR
Oh, please - Palin's comment was about 'getting up in the morning and looking over there and seeing them and seeing what they were up to', or some such verbage, and was an attempt to show that the close proximity of the westernmost point of Alaska to the easternmost point of Siberia somehow gave her some kind of foreign policy qualifications.
DoctorB
"Johnnyappleseed" has yet to learn how to read a map. If he ever did learn how to do so, & actually cared enough to try to fact-check his Fox-fed talking points before regurgitating them, he might have discovered the truth-
the closest Alaska comes to any part of Russia is at the Bering Straits, where the distance is approx. 100 miles; Palin doesn't live in that part of the state (the weather there is pretty forbidding!); Palin's home town of Wasila is approx. 1,000 miles from the nearest point in Russia; the part of Russia which is closest to Alaska is a virtually uninhabited, frozen wasteland.
Those are the geographic facts.
The political fact is that just living 1,000 miles from some foreign country does not in any way mean that you know anything about that country or about foreign policy in general. Sarah was so uninterested in anything beyond the US' borders that she never even got a passport until 2008.
Nothing like an ignorant Republican right-wing extremist to continually call attention to their own ignorance.
marshallr4
I'm from Arkansas and he lost me when he ridiculed his state on the Imus show as a third world country...for a quick laugh. That kind of humor, masking the lack of a studied response will go over real well as a diplomatic ploy to buy time in dealing with world leaders when the chips are down
shortcourse
I lived in Arkansas...my relatives were from Arkansas...and at times I could have sworn it was a third world country...but hey lighten up...can't we all smile every now and then.
Frivolous
I do not see Huckabee as having a chance. Many Republicans hate him. I read their comments a lot on Hot Air. They call him the Huckster.
shortcourse
Those repubs are the elite leftists of the party and they are scared as hell of the "Huckster".
jaydeekay
What is an "elite leftist"?
jaydeekay
Are there elite righties?
EgyptSteve
Huckelberry is a creationist who still has some serious 'splainin' to do about the Wayne Dumond case. And Christ, Newt Gingrich at number five? Who's going to be his running mate, Kermit the Frog, or the Geico Gecko? Seriously, why not just dig up Ronnie Ray-Gun and run him again, if we're scraping the bottom of the has-been barrel? The rest of the losers are no better. Pawlenty is a dweeb, Palin is an idiot-savant, Romny is a used-car salesman. Obama will carry 49 states against anyone on the list.
shortcourse
Yep Obama will carry the 49 states right on down to destruction as he is doing now....howz the hope and change workin for you today.
Johnnyappleseed
52 states not 49.
Ruckus
Didn't he let a rapists out of jail for political reasons and then that scumball raped and killed again??? Another man of God, fucking up the world. If I were Jesus I would be really pissed off. Isn't there a Republican in the country who really is a good guy? Not one?
shortcourse
And who let the Jihadist stay in the military to kill 13...??? Social left wing policies...maybe...
OffenbachStutz
Yes, liberals are Terror Sympathizers. You are truly one short of a course.
arayasam
you're an idiot. hassan was investigated under the BUSH administration, and it was the FBI who didn't do anything. more importantly, we don't have all the facts yet, hassan could've just been a normal wack job. stick to deer hunting bucko.
Johnnyappleseed
Same as the Democrats.
lsquare
Please, please national media, please contact Max Brantley and some of the other senior columnists at the Arkansas Times for a rundown on Mike Huckabee. His national ambitions on the Presidential level need to be urgently nipped in the bud. You should find plenty to nip with from the people at the Times. His shenanigans as Ark Gov (the Huckster) have been well documented there. Lord have mercy on us if he comes any where close to being President.
Johnnyappleseed
Huckster.... ain't da man.
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