It’s getting more and more obvious that the recent rise in popularity of Huckabee is very bad for the Republican party.
While presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is surging in new polls of GOP candidates, a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Tuesday shows he would lose to all three leading Democratic candidates by double digits in hypothetical contests.
In head-to-head matchups — the first to include Huckabee — the former Arkansas governor loses to Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York by 10 percentage points (54 percent to 44 percent), to Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois by 15 points (55 percent to 40 percent) and to former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina by 25 points (60 percent to 35 percent).
The poll comes on the heels of a CNN/Opinion Research poll released Monday that showed Huckabee doubled his support nationally among likely Republican voters in the last month and is in a statistical dead heat with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
And the Democrats know it:
Democrat party officials are avoiding any and all criticism of Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, insiders reveal.
The Democratic National Committee has told staffers to hold all fire, until he secures the party’s nomination.
The directive has come down from the highest levels within the party, according to a top source.
Within the DNC, Huckabee is known as the “glass jaw — and they’re just waiting to break it.”
In the last three weeks since Huckabee’s surge kicked in, the DNC hasn’t released a single press release criticizing his rising candidacy.
~~~In fact, as the story broke over the weekend that Huckabee said he wanted to isolate AIDS patients back in 1992, the DNC ignored the opportunity to slam the candidate from the left.
“He’ll easily be their McGovern, an easy kill,” mocked one senior Democrat operative Tuesday morning from Washington.
“His letting out murderers because they shout ‘Jesus’, his wanting to put 300,000 AIDS patients and Magic Johnson into isolation, ain’t even scratching the surface of what we’ve got on him.”
The man sure is dangerous, to his own party that is. He would get trounced by the Democrats if he got the nomination. Hell, just yesterday Fred Thompson took the man to task for his stance on Cuba, and the Huckster had to admit he didn’t know a whole hell of a lot about Cuba:
On Cuba, Thompson criticized Huckabee, who in 2002 asked
President Bush to lift the embargo against that country, saying it “has
not helped the people of Cuba.”“He thinks we should lift the embargo against Castro. I disagree
with that,” Thompson said today at the Bay of Pigs Museum in Miami. “I
think it raises issues when politicians change their views on a dime to
appeal to a particular group of people right before an election.” The
governor recently issued a statement saying he supports the embargo.Huckabee defended himself in Miami this morning, according to CBS
News’ Joy Lin, saying his “major concern” in 2002 was to try and
“revive a sagging economy” impacted by the recession. “Our rice markets
were in trouble…At that time, my primary responsibility was simply to
hear the concerns unique to my state,” he said.Since then, Huckabee said, he had been able to find new markets for
the rice market by going to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to find
Asian markets for the state’s rice. Another reason for the
policy change, explained Huckabee, was that he was “really not that
aware” of the issues the issues that exist between Cuba and the United
States.“Being in Arkansas, that’s not one of the issues I am in close proximity with,” he said.
Whoakay….so he didn’t know a lot about Cuba but still asked the President to life an embargo against the country. Then you have his call to quarantine AIDS patients because he thought you could get AIDS through casual contact. He thought the latest NIE was the old one from 2003. He flip-flopped on Gitmo. He wants to give aid to those here illegally.
The man is a nightmare.
But he is rising in the polls because he is slick? Is that the kind of candidate we want going against the Democrats?
Myself, I think he is rising in the polls because the MSM are pushing him the best they can. They know he is our McGovern and he’s the best chance the Democrats have of gaining the White House.
See author page
FOX seems to be pushing him too, and probably not because they’re carrying water for the Democrats. If they’re doing it because of some agenda and not just because he’s the story of the hour, it’s probably on the theory that early wins by Huckabee hurt Romney more than Giuliani and so put Giuliani in better position later on.
Another poll done this month said Clinton would win the Democratic primary yet loose to the top 5 Republicans. I guess polls are like opinions, because everyone seems to have one.
Greg beat me to it since I was trying to use small words to talk to a troll on another post. As Mark Twain stated, “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics” and polls are statistics. Howard Dean was a “shoe in” in the 2003-04 primaries and lost by a large margin too (wonder what odds ‘intrade’ had for him?). No one has polled me, but I still have not made up my mind on the Republicans running.
As for the Dems not attacking who they see is a weak candidate against them, well, as much as I hate the left, it does make sense. Besides, IF Huckabee is nominated, his complete lack of understanding in foreign affairs will negate Obama’s similar lack and/or make Hillary look like the “most intelligent woman in the world”.
I am still trying to figure out how anyone old enough to be President is ““really not that aware†of the issues the issues that exist between Cuba and the United States”. The AIDS comment was from 1992. We knew enough about AIDS then to know quarantines were useless. I am having trouble understanding how he was/is still so blind on some of these issues.
As I said, I have not made up my mind on who to support in the Republican side, but Huckabee APPEARS ignorant, weak, and wrong on far too many aspects of the world.
I still like Huck. I think seeing him on a debate stage opposite Hillary would be a black and white choice for Americans. Now, on a stage with Barack…well, that’s a problem for Republicans, but given Barack’s claimed stance against negative campaigning, it’d be hard for him to sling the mud needed, and we’d more likely see a white bread vs wonder bread contest ala the Bush/Gore debates of 00.
Fred’s great, but I don’t think he’s got the health for it
Romney’s nice, but too plastic for me
Rudy’s great imo, but back to the next chess move:
Rudy vs Hillary= a NY contest, not a national one
Rudy vs Barack= the same setting in reverse of a Huck/Hillary stage
Perhaps another way to start looking at things is the VPs.
Richardson vs McCain in a debate
Gen Clark vs Fred
Barack vs the Terminator
Rudy Giuliani openly and publicly committed adultery with the aide of government employess…in view of his own family and you have the NERVE to suggest HE isn’t bad fo the GOP?
Get real!
Romney has displayed a record of flip-flopping like no other GOP candidate I can remember since I first started voting in ’80…his rhetoric is guided by whichever way the wind blows…and you suggest that Huckabee is the bad choice for the GOP?
Dude…your credibility is greatly lacking…and so is HotAir’s, Michelle’s and all the other idiots who refuse to admit that Huckabee is the GOP’s BEST chance at retaing the presidency!
Get a clue! The far-left HATES Mike Huckabee. If you can’t recognize the significance of that FACT you really should just shut the “F” up, Scott.
So much for debate……
far-left HATES Mike Huckabee. If you can’t recognize the significance of that FACT
What is the significance? Do you think the far left doesn’t hate Thompson and Romney? And if you *could* demonstrate that they hated Huckabee more, would that really be a positive recommendation? Anyway it sure seems to me that some elements of the left (those who like higher taxes, who are soft on crime, who like the government to look after our health…) would find a lot to like about Huckabee!
Al Ozarka sounds like a plant to me…
“Rudy Giuliani openly and publicly committed adultery with the aide of government employess…in view of his own family and you have the NERVE to suggest HE isn’t bad fo the GOP?”
Most of the people towing that line are those who willingly looked the other way when Clinton did far worse.
Frankly, in my last visit to Arkansas, I found it was totally acceptable to have sex with the goat tied up in the backyard as it was to cheat on your wife.
I’m not too keen on being lectured about morality or ethics by anyone from Arkansas.
“Most of the people towing that line are those who willingly looked the other way when Clinton did far worse.”
A plant? LOL! You’ve been to my site, MA. We find ourselves commenting often among the same group of bloggers…Tugboat’s, Casting Pearls before Swine.
I’m no liberal…and CERTAINLY not a plant.
I find your statement amazing…considering that many of the same people who have ridiculed Clinton and even impeached Clinton over his sexcapade-like behavior (legitimate redicule) are now perfectly willing to overlook the FACT that Giuliani committed adultery publicly to the shame of his own family.
AND…others are willing to ignore the FACT that Romney’s politics the way the wind blows in whatever arena in which he may be performing.
Romney and Giuliani supporters have been completely dishonest in their tirades against Huckabee. Huckabee has been forthright and honest at every turn.
You tell me what is bad for the GOP.
An un-apologetic public adulterer as the nominee? The left will laugh at us!
A man who less than two years ago stated that Roe-v-Wade should remain the law of the land?
I’ll tell you what would be bad for the GOP…nominating someone who does not stand for the values of the GOP.
Romney, Giuliani…Guilty!
“What is the significance? Do you think the far left doesn’t hate Thompson and Romney?”
No, they don’t. Romney was elected Governor of the MOST liberal commonwealth in the nation. He’s been pro-choice…probably still is whether he says so or not.
Thompson is not even a threat…the left doesn’t give a damn about Thompson…they know he missed his Chance on Inependence Day just like the rest of us do.
There is a LONG record of liberal-hatred towards Mike Huckabee. All you have to do is to trace back where EVERY one of the negative stories against him have originated.
I challenge you to do so. You’ll find that the openly un-apologetic leftist rag, The Arkansas Times, and its leader, Max Brantley, are responsible for most. Other ultra-left wing nutjobs will account for any others.
Test me.
In Arkansas…Mike Huckabee beats Hillary by a pretty good margin.
Go figure! Conservative Arkansas re-elected Huckabee TWICE!
He served as governor longer than Clinton.
Huck is being propelled by these factors:
-He is “clean and articulate”, and thus represents the same kind of change without substance that Obama represents. There is a fatigue with years of the Bushes and Clintons in the White House, and the voters with the collective attention span of a three month old baby need some extra stimulation to stay interested. This is the theory of “bright and shiny objects.” His self-depreciating humor is just the ticket to “go to Hollywood” as it certainly trumps any lack of foreign policy experience or his stance on taxes and the illegals or his daring flip-flops in these areas. Now that the viewing public is tired of the American Idol why not apply the lessons learned to politics?
-The “social conservatives” haven’t had enough homage paid to their spiritual concerns by the front-runners of the Republican Party. To them the War on Terror and the illegal immigration are at best sideshows to the real war on God by the the secular humanists. They don’t give a flying prayer about whether the Constitution seems to point away from the right of the federal government to restrict abortions or homosexual behavior, or for that matter about the whole “separation of church and state” thing. Pardoning the killers and applying the golden rule to Iran is the moral thing to do, just as the book says. You gotta talk the talk otherwise they’ll put a curse on you. Huck talks the talk like the pro he is.
-The Fox/Dick Morris team seems to be playing games with calibrating Hucks ascent just enough to improve Rudy’s overall chances, not too hot not to cold. Huck’s gotten a little big for his britches so they’ll cut him down to size. But he needs to decisively beat Mitt and Fred in Iowa, I’m guessing ideally by five points or so, and they’ll be aiming for this target. After that they’ll gradually ratchet up the pressure on him to make sure he keeps those two under control in South Carolina but loses to Rudy or at least doesn’t beat him too bad. It’s a tough act, but if it was easy Rudy would be doing it himself.
-The Dems attacking or not attacking him: not sure that makes any difference at this point. He’d get some brownie points if they did. On the other hand, I see the beginning of desperation among many conservatives about his ascent. Some are threatening to vote for Hillary because she is more likely to deal with Iran in a more rational manner than Huck. I kinda doubt they will, but how bad do they have to feel to even say something like this?
Hey, if the Iowans propel the Arkansas Gov’ner whose main concern about Cuba had been to sell them rice, to the top slot I have a catchy title for the introspective examination of this “miraculous” ascent: “Agrarians at the Gate”.
Re: “Myself, I think he is rising in the polls because the MSM are pushing him the best they can. They know he is our McGovern and he’s the best chance the Democrats have of gaining the White House.”
Of course.
It’s always someone else’s fault when something happens that a Conervative does not like.
How about this for a reason: Mike Huckabee is exactly the kind of Theocratic, Fundamentalist, Gay-bashing, Creationist President that the core of the Republican Party wants for America. No one “outside” of The Party is imposing Mr. Huckabee: He is exactly what the Party Loyalists want.
Non-agrarians prefer Fred:
http://www.channel3000.com/politics/14818555/detail.html
I think what Philadelphia Steve is saying in his useles idiot way is that unless the candidate is Lennin reborn with a mix of Stalin and Mao, then Steve just don’t like him.
Huck’s strategy for dealing with criticism not posed as a direct question has become to claim that it’s “desperation”, but now it’s gotten ridiculous:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/huckabee-romney.html
The problem for the GOP if Huckabee is nominated is significant. Elections are won and lost by those in the middle, NOT the far left and right.
Several of my friends who normally vote Democrat will vote for Juliani or McCain, over Hillary. They are that pissed with her. Likewise one who is a Militant Southern Lesbian will vote for Juliani over Obama (Shes undecided about Hillary vs Juliani.) None of these individuals will vote other then democrat for the rest of the GOP candidates.
While things could change, and polls can be wrong, My guess is that Hauckabee would cause many of those who are undecided to swing to the left, and many who are apathetic on the left to mobilize.
Random
I’m a conservative, pro-life Christian, and I can’t stand Mike Huckabee. I bet he is a great guy, but he would not be a good President. Some say that he is economically populist, but the boundry between populism and liberalism is very vague.
As a party, let’s nominate someone who can win: John McCain, or perhaps Rudy Giuliani.
Last Opinion research poll that had Huckabee getting killed showed McCain beating Hillary by 2 and tying Obama
Alex, why do you not include Fred in your list. I wasn’t born liking Fred, never even watched “Law and Order”. I only became aware of him in March of this year. I consider him a far superior candidate to anyone running based on his positions. Please consider Fred as your preferred choice.
let’s nominate someone who can win
No, nominate someone you think is best, and then make them win. To base your choice on these kinds of polls is to let your mind be made up for you by others (and not very well-informed others, at that).
The Mike Huckabee “surge”
Much is being made about the “surge” in the polls former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has seen the last few weeks in the run-up to Iowa. I think this says a lot more about the sad state of affairs in the Republican presidential race tha…