For all of their pandering to "conservatives" and "evangelicals" John McCain and Mitt Romney have been unable to shake off Mike Huckabee. Huckabee's victories in Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, and strong showings in Georgia and Missouri prove that his message resonates with voters in southern states and rural districts across the country. Huckabee has the cache with these voters that McCain and Romney have desperately sought to develop.
The biggest loser in this Huckabee surge is Romney who now finds himself sandwiched between his two counterparts as the republican contests reaches its final stretch. Romney's victories on Super Tuesday were negligible and only served to delay McCain's seemingly inevitable victory, while doing very little for his own progress in this campaign.
McCain benefits greatly from Huckabee's rise because not only has it upended Romney's campaign, but also because Huckabee has now emerged as a viable vice presidential candidate. At the beginning of this campaign it was difficult to envision a formidable ticket among the prominent republican candidates. Each candidate seemed to have a major flaw that was not evened out in any sense by any of his republican peers. However, now that Huckabee has distinguished himself, republicans suddenly have a chance in the south without having to concede too much ground out west and in the northeast corridor.
This presidential race has consistently proven, there are no sure bets. Therefore it would not surprise me at all if things took another dramatic turn next week. What we do know for sure from now on though is that for better or worse, Mike Huckabee is here to stay.
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If Massachusetts was too liberal for his tastes, then he should not try resolving his conflicts with that state via the oval office. He shares Bush Jr's sense of entitlement that will likely become more prominent in American politics as more billionaires try turning the white house into their playing ground.
Romney's defeat is instructive for the Michael Bloomberg's of this world. I pray that they do not learn their lesson well, because I shudder to think what will happen as more billionaire's come out of the woodwork.
While I disagree with many of his positions and would never vote for him, I am fascinated by Huckabee's political acumen. Luck has a lot to do with Huckabee's success. Huckabee has been lucky in the sense that save for McCain, none of his republican counterparts were really well known nationally prior to campaigning. Even someone like Giuliani who as famous as he is, was more of a stock character than a real person to most Americans.
I first saw Huckabee on The Colbert Report and was amazed by how well he played along with Colbert. This did not get me thinking that he could become president, but that if he ever garnered considerable media attention, his campaign would really take off. The last part of his luck is that he's telegenic in an otherwise un-telegenic republican field. This last contention will be his true worth to McCain's ticket if he's chosen.
Yesterday, several southern states handed Huck some delegates. The same day, many of the same states were devestated by tornados. Where is there finger pointing now?
The Corporate fat-cats want Mitt but they can't control the rabble long enough to plant the Tiara on his head.
The Democrats may have an intersting sparing match between Clinton and Obama, but it's not fragmenting the party and we will be able to rally around either candidate because in the end it's all about taking back our Democracy from the ignorant and incompetent GOP.
For eight years, they gave major lip service to the Religious Right without having to actually pay that tab. The puffed up the military and got aggressive, globally. But the real center of power was where it has always been: The Corporatists.
But this year ... the sheeple actually believed all the Kool Aid they've been given all these years. Now, each faction is getting behind "their" candidate and many will NOT cross over, if their candidate doesn't win the nomination -- because the GOP alternatives are mono-dimensional and fail to fool the other factions, this time around.
Each of the three GOP candidates is very close to their ceiling, with their primary votes. I seriously believe and predict that about 1/3 of the GOP base will not support someone who is not "their candidate."
Which guarantees a GOP loss in November.
And I'm lovin' it!
I believe the word you seek is spelled "cachet".
Unless you are referring to a hidden pot of gold.
Wants to give the poor and middle class an economic boost, in part by bringing home jobs to America. Is against corporate rule of Washington. Wants to increase emphasis on preventive medicine. Is signed up for the Boston marathon this year and has run several marathons previously in his quest for health. Makes me laugh with his ripostes (that takes a lot of doing right now), and is the candidate most fluent with the English language as used for real communication (I am a retired English teacher).
I suppose he can't win nationally, but it did my heart good, literally, to see some people get out there and support him.
It is hard to think of his agenda suppressed by being VP rather than President, but possibly, just possibly, he might be able to provide a common sense rudder for McCain. I will have a hard time voting for McCain, and I am not sure having Huck as VP will make that possible.
A lifelong Democrat for Huck.
Same with the Clinton/Obama Punch & Judy Show.
This has been set up prior to filming like all "Reality" Shows.
Crown her Queen and Stop yanking my chain!
These are all corporate Sponsored Products- should have the Logos of their sponsors (masters) tattooed on their heads. Coke & Pepsi- both colas. We're looking for the UNCOLA.
What kind of American would destroy American principles and the foundational documents that ensure freedom to believe AND not to believe in fairy tales?
A religious, ignorant, closed-minded, bigot named Huckabee.
Shameful.
Preaches stand before God and preach that you can not be Christians if you do not vote this way or that. They have beaten down the church with their messages since the days of Clinton that even left leaning Christians have begun to believe the message. Never underestimate the power of propaganda. If you tell a story long enough and repeatedly even people who know better will begin to believe it.
I thought Hukaberry was ok too, until I heard the constitution crap. The GOP claim to be many things but the most hypocritical is their claim to patriotism. They loath the government, the constitution, freedom, and the people of this nation. Their only concern is the mighty dollar. They are money worshipers their allegiance is to the accumulation of wealth they care not for this country, God, or the people of this nation they care about money. The god money controls their every move.
I hope McCain does choose Huckabee as his VP running mate. That'll chase off even more voters in the general election.
Considering all the bragging Romney has done about his economic acumen, he sure is spending a ton of his own money on buying just a few delegates. At about $1 million each, he's shown some real fiscal idiocy.