When the debate was over, Governor Huckabee was the only candidate to visit the student's Debate Watch Party in a neighboring auditorium. He received rock star treatment. First was a standing ovation when he entered the room.
and then a big round of applause and lots of love from the audience.
Huckabee talked directly to the students, explaining why the election should be important to them. He talked to the students about how his parents wanted to do better for him and his siblings and how his generation, the baby boomer generation, is failing to live up to its obligation to the younger generation. For specifics, the former governor talked about abolishing the IRS and doing something about the deficit so that the next generation isn't burdened with debt.
The students swarmed Huckabee for his autograph. At least one red-faced student gushed about his autographed t-shirt.
Part of Huckabee's appeal comes from his down-home attitude and unpretentiousness. He was very charming and got a few laughs out of the students. But Stratos Arguirio and Emily Nolan say charm can only get you so far.
They are former Democrats that support Ron Paul because of his honesty.
Emily and Stratos weren't the only one to mention party-switching for Ron Paul.
Additionally, the Congressman's supporters are very passionate. They were out in disproportionate numbers to how he is doing in the election and how the mainstream media treats him. About a dozen people waved signs for various candidates at the FAU entrance,
but Boca Raton's finest said that no other candidate had supporters cheering for them as Ron Paul did. A group of about 100 Ron Paul campaigners of all ages greeted debate go-ers as they drove toward the auditorium with shouts of a "Ron Paul Revolution."
Three people in a row (coincidence probably, but...) expressed their support for Ron Paul for the reasons as articulated by Republican Phillip Lumelle of Palm Beach County.
Lumelle has a lot of friends who are Ron Paul supporters and he said that Palm Beach Meet-ups have about 300 members and they had to split into two groups because they couldn't find a place to meet.
The other candidates had supporters present. People like McCain because of his stance on immigration. People like Romney for the same reason. Others like Romney for his fiscal policies. Someone cited Mayor Giuliani's experience and another for his stance 'on all the issues.' It's anyone's game, but Huckabee and Paul hope their devotees can rally the troops.