Well! In the great tradition of citizen journalism, it looks like the unwashed masses aren't relying on the media to keep perspective on out-of-nowhere frontrunner Mike Huckbee ("Mike Huckabee surge!!!" is just too too irresistible a narrative, it seems). While Huckabee's surge is obviously the reason for the sudden closer look into his background — pushing to parole a rapist who raped and murdered upon release; penchant for accepting any and all gifts; controversial statements about women, gays and AIDS patients — it's worth noting that the story about the "floating cross" in his holiday ad (sorry, make that Christmas ad) has gotten across-the-board pickup over the past few days, as opposed to the Huckabee/Dumond story, including revelations that Huckabee had received letters from numerous victims and victim family members of paroled rapist Wayne Dumond warning that he would rape again if he was released (Huckabee had always gone with the "no way we could have known" excuse). I'm getting into the minutiae here, but it's worth noting that, say, The Politico — the website that is pretty much about nothing else other than this presidential race — spared ONE mention of Dumond on its site, in a brief blog post by Jonathan Martin that wasn't even really about it and, moreover, was completely incorrect in painting the Dumond outcry as coming from the right. Way to flood that zone, Politico!

In any case, back to citizen journalism: YouTube's newest political/comedy videographer Lee Stranahan made this faux-commercial that sums it all up pretty damn nicely (and pretty damningly, too). Stranahan's videos have been recently making the rounds, with pickups by Rolling Stone, Daily Kos, the Boston Herald, Newsweek and Rosie O'Donnell, and I caught it myself thanks to last night's Brian Lehrer show on CUNY TV. It's the classic viral-vid story — TV, MSM and blog pickup for something one guy with an idea and a laptop did on his own time — taking his version of candidate messages to the wider world. It works — just ask Phil de Vellis or Obama Girl. In any case, watch and enjoy (or, if you're a Huckabee supporter, "enjoy"):

p.s. Stranahan's other mock political ads are pretty funny, like this mock attack ad criticizing the other Republican candidates for not spending enough on their mistresses: "Who's the only Republican worth cheating with? Rudy Giuliani!"

Note: This post has been updated and corrected to reflect Lee Stranahan's status as the latest addition to the viral-vid canon, which we had originally missed. Congratulations, Lee!

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