Mike Huckabee won the recent straw poll. Photo by David Ball
While it is still extremely early in the 2012 presidential campaign Mike Huckabee emerged as the winner of a straw poll taken at the Value Voters Summit. At the last summit Huckabee had lost to Romney, though clearly that did not help either man as McCain won the 2012 nod. The Christian Science Monitor is already saying Huckabee's win is basically irrelevant.
It is early Huckabee does have reason to be optimistic about his chances should he chose to pursue the Republican nomination. A number of factors are currently working in Huckabee's favor.
First Huckabee has not suffered through some of the recent struggles of his rivals. Mitt Romney has taken criticism from Huckabee and other conservatives for the Massachusetts health care reform package that was passed under Romney. The Massachusetts model is seen as a model by some liberals but hated by conservatives in general. Sarah Palin took on criticism for her early resignation as Alaska's governor and continues to make headlines with every Levi Johnston accusation. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal drew criticism from conservatives for a poor performance in the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union speech. Huckabee has distinguished himself as one of the few candidates to simply not screw up over the past year.
Secondly Huckabee is constantly increasing his name recognition and profile among Republicans through his Fox News show. While other candidates like Romney and Palin only appear in the headlines every week or so Huckabee's image and views are constantly being beamed to millions on the number one conservative media outlet in America.
Finally Huckabee's viewpoints appeal the most to the conservative voter now upset by the Obama administration policies. The stimulus bill and health care reform proposals have re-energized the conservative base and whoever want the next Republican nomination will also need to capture that energy. Huckabee is a strong pro-life advocate whose conservative credentials can not be questioned as is demonstrated by the straw poll at the very conservative Value Voters Summit. In addition Huckabee has taken a strong stand against the Obama administration that sometimes rivals the intensity of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Much like then-candidate Obama made a name for himself as the anti-Bush, Huckabee could likewise run successfully on the anti-Obama platform, at least with Republican voters.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Comments
Not from my election booth.Republicans will nominate a hardcore small-government conservative or I will stay home again on election day, like I did with McCain.If these GOP dopes nominate another "moderate" RINO, like Huckabee, Romney, or Rudy they might as well hand over a second term to Obama as far as I'm concerned, because I won't vote for countryclub republicans that pander to screwballs in the northeast or California.
Oh, I can't wait for Huck to be nominated. He is the most stupid candidate, outside of Sarah Palin. Maybe they can run together. Whatta ticket-they will lose every state but those nutball Southern racist states. Go - Huck - can't wait to see you up against Obama. Maybe you and Chuck Norris can do another singalong. The Huck and Chuck Show. Oh too great. I am afraid that Huck will be Huck the Stuck.
I want to know if he thinks man and dinosaurs walked the earth together?
Romney is the GOP's best chance in 2012. Please don't mention his religion. Only back water hicks would hold that against him. The nation as a whole convincingly elected a black president, they would certainly vote for Mitt Romney, just as they did to elect him Governor.
When the economy is a tailspin and the machine of government isn't working the GOP will turn to Mitt Romney, an articulate candidate who has more proven success in the economy than Obama or any GOP candidate in the field.
<b>Remember, it's the economy, stupid.</b>
Having researched his time in AR for myself rather than accepting the word of people who have an agenda, it is clear that Huckabee is a man with an impeccable executive resume.
He cleared out a lot of the bureaucratic bloat & improved efficiency in AR - no mean feat. Despite the smears, the only things he spent money on were exactly the things people WANT the govt. to attend to - things like improving children's health, education & necessary road improvements.
He served with a totally partisan Democrat legislature (who literally nailed his office door shut) & yet managed to turn a painful deficit around into a very impressive $3bn surplus during his time in office.
He is a principled man who genuinely cares about we the people & loves his country more than his resume -- & is exactly what our country needs to turn things around & move us into a positive direction.
During the primaries in the last election Gov. Huckabee had the most executive experience out of all of everyone running, Republican or Democrat. I cannot wait to vote for him again.
Governor Huckabee is the ONLY Republican who has been right about the economy since 2007. He is the ONLY major Republican leader who has spoken out against the stimulus checks (from the 1st one from Bush) to the TARP to the bailouts. His book "Do The Right Thing" shows he has the freshest, brightest ideas for the country. He is the ONLY leading candidate gutsy enough to endorse The Fair Tax, the singlemost thing to fix he economy. The Republican Party couldn't ask for a better candidate and the country couldn't get a better president.
@John G.- Ask any liberal if Huckabee is a moderate RINO...they would laugh. If you actually read Huckabee's writings or listen to what he says about self-government, it echoes what the Founders said. Huckabee gets more flack about his religious beliefs than Romney ever did..and no, he doesn't believe that dinosaurs and men walked the earth together..a liberal attack that frequently gets repeated by so-called 'true conservatives'. Huckabee is the only viable Republican candidate who calls for the elimination all income taxes. All the other 'conservatives' want to maintain the status quo of progressive taxation, i.e. class-warfare. I would like to see a Huckabee/Paul ticket.
That's funny, Huckabee a country-club repub, he is not nor ever will be a country club Repub. He has never pandered to east or CA.
Mike Huckabee has almost 11 yrs. experience as a Governor of Arkansas. He inherited a $200 M deficit with terrible schools and infrastructure. He left the state with schools rated 6th in the country and some of the best roads in the country according to the truck drivers. Yes, he raised some taxes (the people in Arkansas voted they wanted the taxes raised to get better schools). He vetoed bills to increase taxes, but the legislature in Arkansas was almost all Democrats, so they went over what he wanted. You cannot compare one state to another to say this person was not a fiscal conservative because it depends on the money they have and what condition the state is in during their tenure. He received over 48% of the black vote (Democrats) when he ran for his second term. He is the most popular candidate of the Black minority that the Republicans hav
Mike Huckabee is the most consistent, noble and courageous leader of the NEW conservative movement and he is much more credible, articulate and like able than most of the other GOP top tier choices. Those who distort and belittle this man just show their own lack of knowledge about him OR perhaps they enjoy spewing their hate filled comments. Please go to his web site, huckpac.com, to obtain factual information.
I am a proud 22 year old conservative that will vote for Huckabee in 2012. He will win the nomination because the citizens of this country will relaize that our nation has gone completely in the wrong direction from what our founding fathers intended. The government is involved in almost every aspects of our lives and with big government comes less freedom.
Mike Huckabee is a patriot ho loves this country just as I do, and wants to conserve the freedoms we have and make this country a better place for the generations to come. His common sense solutions and core convivtions and values, he will give America the inspiration and courage to fight for freedom! He is my generations REAGAN!
Huckabee 2012!
I followed 2008 closely. I watched all the debates, & heard what all the pundits & bloggers said. Then I decided to check out NOT what each man said, but what his RECORD said. What kind of bills they pushed for when they were in elected office. I looked at what kind of causes they endorsed with the most passion. I looked at their gubernatorial proclamations. Positions were examined- did they stay consistent over time? or change depending on which office was being sought. Candidates' own websites were scoured for evidence of their priorities -- how did they address (if at all) the issues about which I care? What shape their states were in before & after office. I looked at the kind of people with whom they surround themselves. After months of research, I became firmly convinced that Mike Huckabee is a true conservative, in every sense of the word. Less gov't, lower taxes, more effective and efficient administration, TRULY pro-life, honest and authentic.
Huckabee will not be the nominee. If the economy is showing demonstrable signs of recovery, the nominee will be Gingrich. If it's still tanking, it will be Romney. Simple as that.
Just what we need: a Young Earth Creationist who denies evolution and wants to get it out of schools.
Let's keep the kiddies ignorant and drive the American economy back to the horse & buggy era while the rest of the world goes forward.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!