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Drudge: Huckabee leading in Florida now too, says Rasmussen

posted at 10:44 am on December 14, 2007 by Allahpundit
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The poll’s not out yet so it’s red-fonted halfway down the page. When it does come out, it should get the siren.

Giuliani’s been hoping Huck would break from the second tier, end Mitt’s candidacy by upsetting him in Iowa, and clear the way for Team Rudy to roll up Florida on January 29th. How’s that working out?

RASMUSSEN Florida Primary polling data showing Rudy lost lead; now its Huckabee, Romney on top: Huckabee 27% Romney 23% Giuliani 19%… Developing…

The last Rasmussen Florida poll on November 18 showed Rudy 27, Mitt 19, Fred 16, McCain 10, Huck 9. Eighteen points gained in a month, kids. And at the risk of repeating myself, it’s all been done with no money and no endorsement more significant than Chuck Norris’s. Although that may be changing: Ed Rollins, Reagan’s national campaign director in 1984, just signed as Huck’s new national campaign manager, and remember, he may or may not have a big foreign-policy endorsement coming down the pike today.

Assuming the new poll isn’t a wild outlier, Huck’s big gains likely came within the last 10 days or so: The last poll taken of the state, between December 2 and 4 by Survey USA, showed Rudy up by 14. Note that Mitt’s also gained, which really kills Rudy’s state strategy. He was counting on Florida to favor the moderate; now he’s got two social cons in the lead. Whoever emerges from the Mitt/Huck semifinal is now positioned to inherit a lot of votes from the other and end up leading big. How does Giuliani turn this around, short of abandoning his campaigning elsewhere and pouring everything he’s got left into the state?

The better Huck does, the more morbidly intrigued I am by how this is going to shake out within the party after the election. Lowry thinks we’re bound to be slaughtered in the general with Huckabee as the nominee, for which there’ll naturally be plenty of recriminations against social cons afterwards, but what if he wins and we end up with a religious liberal as president whom Christians can tolerate just fine and the rest of us can’t? You’re looking at massive political reorientations in that case, as non-religious conservatives ask themselves the vaguely sinister question Peggy Noonan asks this morning: Would Ronald Reagan be insufficiently pious for today’s GOP?

Update: Lots of buzz for this piece by Quin Hillyer, although it seems like wishful thinking to me. If Fred ain’t dead, he’d better a-crawl up outta that coffin right quick-like. Because Huck’s up seven in his must-have state, too.

Update: Here’s the poll. Good news for Rudy: He’s in the lead as second choice. Bad news: Among voters who say religion isn’t important at all, he actually trails Mitt by six points.


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Comment pages: 1 2

I don’t get it – why do people like Huck so much?

pullingmyhairout on December 14, 2007 at 10:51 AM

Good lord! This guy is going to be nominated and the Republicans are going to be trashed in the general election. It must be wonderful for the Democrats when the Republicans beat themselves.

rplat on December 14, 2007 at 10:52 AM

Jug of Naught.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 10:53 AM

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?

But seriously, how is this happening. AP, can you offer a reasonable explanation? Can anyone? I refuse to believe it’s solely a faith issue. But if it is, I’m absolutely stunned that people would give that issue more weight than Huck’s positions on, say, crime and immigration among other things. What gives?

World B. Free on December 14, 2007 at 10:54 AM

This Huck is just awful on so many levels, he has no shame on top of it. Just another power-hungry pol looing to cash in IMHO.

bbz123 on December 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM

Speaking of faith–I’m losing faith in my fellow Republicans day by day.

aero on December 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM

Speaking of faith–I’m losing faith in my fellow Republicans day by day.

I’m losing faith too. Huckabee is a bigger liberal than GWB. DO NOT WANT.

bigbeas on December 14, 2007 at 10:57 AM

Huck is going to rip the Republican party right in two. It’s disturbing that so many conservatives either a) buy into Huck’s sudden conversions on so many issues; or b) think his liberalism is ok since he justifies it using the bible.

Time to start thinking about who my write in candidate will be next year.

thirteen28 on December 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM

I still dont trust ANY of these Rasmussen polls.

They are all CREATING momentum out of thin air when I dont see any enthusiasm among NON-EVANGELICAL Republicans to embrace Huck at all.

Has Huck even campaigned in Fla? Did thousands of Evangelicals that had never been polled suddenly appear to answer Rasmussen’s poll?

Is Rasmussen MANUFACTURING momentum by manipulating polls that all favor a guy most nonEvangelical Republicans are beginning to HATE??

Color me EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL.

Always Right on December 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM

how is this happening

Maybe it’s time for the Christian conservative movement to have a qualified viable candidate of national standing to counter the decades of liberal democrat and republican elitism that has marginalized their voice in America.

But they didn’t produce one. So perhaps Huck is merely an accident they’re trying to captialize upon.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:05 AM

capitalize on.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?

But seriously, how is this happening. AP, can you offer a reasonable explanation? Can anyone? I refuse to believe it’s solely a faith issue. But if it is, I’m absolutely stunned that people would give that issue more weight than Huck’s positions on, say, crime and immigration among other things. What gives?

World B. Free on December 14, 2007 at 10:54 AM

Ditto. It’s like the Republican Party has suddenly sprouted an “All-Religion, All The Time” wing that ignores everything else about a candidate except whether he preaches the sermon they want to hear. Conservatives, including social cons who are religious but don’t have blinders on, are left shaking our heads in disbelief as the Huckabites prepare to drag the whole party over a cliff.

ReubenJCogburn on December 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM

This is disastrous. I see now the reason why the GOP is referred to as “the stupid party.”

Hilts on December 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM

They are all CREATING momentum out of thin air when I dont see any enthusiasm among NON-EVANGELICAL Republicans to embrace Huck at all.

Color me EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL.

Always Right on December 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM

Totally agree. Reality and these polls just don’t match up for me. If Huck’s really that popular, where are the ardent supporters in all the forums, blogs, etc? They’re just not there.

Our candidate is being chosen for us. Against our will.

techno_barbarian on December 14, 2007 at 11:07 AM

I suspect Huck’s rise is due mostly to the way he has been allowed to present himself. He does well in debates due to his style. All the candidates are being presented on a sound bite basis due to the debate formats which don’t really allow point and counterpoint discussion. Since Huck’s true colors would float to the top in that setting, he has essentially been protected from his own ignorance and past activity as governor. This has allowed him to gain based on his superficiality, religion, and one liners. He has no gravitas but it has been concealed by the debates.

a capella on December 14, 2007 at 11:08 AM

This must be how reasonable old-style Democrats like Zell Miller felt when their party got hijacked by the “progressives.”

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:09 AM

I thought Rasmussen was one of the more reliable pollsters.

I also don’t get how Huck gets double digit gains seemingly out of thin air.

Darksean on December 14, 2007 at 11:09 AM

That Peggy Noonan op ed is a classic. So many great lines, and oh so true.

Buy Danish on December 14, 2007 at 11:10 AM

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?

But seriously, how is this happening. AP, can you offer a reasonable explanation? Can anyone? I refuse to believe it’s solely a faith issue. But if it is, I’m absolutely stunned that people would give that issue more weight than Huck’s positions on, say, crime and immigration among other things. What gives?

This is like that line “I don’t know anyone who is voting for him.”

There is this great vast world out there outside the libertarian type internet political sphere. Turn on the TV one Sunday morning and check out Joel Olsteen or other of the hundreds of mega churches across this nation. Do you guys understand that they fill STADIUMS to go to church on Sunday? It IS a faith issue. This is important to a great many people, obviously.

I’ve said before, Huckabee speaks the language of faith. When he says “take this nation back for Christ,” you guys hear “nutty.” But for millions, they hear the language of the pulpit. The most important thing in their lives. Thier faith. And here is a guy speaking their language.

This is why Huckabee is surging. The only way for the other candidates to fight this is to say it LOUDLY that Huckabee cannot beat Hillary. CAN. NOT. That is the only thing that will work.

Rightwingsparkle on December 14, 2007 at 11:10 AM

I also don’t get how Huck gets double digit gains seemingly out of thin air.

Its a miracle, dude.

Just like the story about the loaves and fishes. Except now its more like loaves and dumbasses.

amish on December 14, 2007 at 11:13 AM

how is this happening

Didn’t Freud call it “projecting.” We seem to recognize it well enough when it comes to all of the various Dem. messiahs over the years, from JFK, to Bill, to Obama. It’s not your position which counts, it’s your aura.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:13 AM

The only way for the other candidates to fight this is to say it LOUDLY that Huckabee cannot beat Hillary. CAN. NOT. That is the only thing that will work.

Rightwingsparkle on December 14, 2007 at 11:10 AM

I don’t think even that will work. The ones supporting Huckabee seem to agree with Huckabee that he’s been chosen by God, so they just won’t believe that he can’t beat Hillary. God won’t let Huckabee lose, right?

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:14 AM

I don’t know how anyone can fail to recognize this golden opportunity to put another Jimma Carter in the Whitehouse.

/sarc

Franklin Hill on December 14, 2007 at 11:16 AM

This is why Huckabee is surging. The only way for the other candidates to fight this is to say it LOUDLY that Huckabee cannot beat Hillary. CAN. NOT. That is the only thing that will work.

Brewfan(i think) brought up a good point that adds to this message.

The best thing that George Bush did was get 2 good judges on the Supreme Court. Evangelicals are just ONE more vote away from overturning Roe, which has been what they have always wanted. This is the election where they will finally be able to realize that dream – and what do they do? They throw all their support behind guy who CANNOT win. Which means that a Dem will win and appoint LIb judges and they will have undone everything they have been working for.

amish on December 14, 2007 at 11:17 AM

The only way for the other candidates to fight this is to say it LOUDLY that Huckabee cannot beat Hillary. CAN. NOT. That is the only thing that will work.

What prevents the Huck proponents from realizing this themselves? Are they in some bubble too? Are their church leaders?

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:17 AM

Candidates don’t get nominated by numbers in the polls, they get nominated by numbers in the caucuses and voting booths.

Polls are used to sway public opinion.

I’m willing to wait it out for the numbers that matter.

fogw on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM

But for millions, they hear the language of the pulpit. The most important thing in their lives. Thier faith. And here is a guy speaking their language.

Could we maybe get them to hear “render unto Caesar” and thereby recognize that we are choosing a president, not a pastor?

thirteen28 on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM

There are many of us evangelical Christians who strongly
oppose Mike Huckabee as President.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM

Not only is Huck going to New Hampshire, he’s going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and he’s going to California and Texas and New York… And he’s going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan, and then he’s going to Washington, D.C., to take back the White House!

YEEEEEAAAARRRRGHGGHHHH!!!

saint kansas on December 14, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Didn’t Huckabee once offer to take Fred up on his proposal to have Lincoln-Douglas style one-on-one debates? And Fred ignored him because at the time Huck was a nobody? Maybe it’s time for Fred to accept Huck’s challenge. Fred would pwn Huck on the issues. Huck’s trademark charm and delivery might not be able to withstand 90 minutes head-to-head on the serious issues. His weaknesses would have to show through in that format, I would think.

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:19 AM

No offense to evangelical Christians…

…well yes offense to evangelical Christians…

While most right thinking Christians will agree that faith trumps reason, there are far, far too many of you who will abandon reason completely as a result.

If you vote for Huckabee… you damned well deserve him.

thareb on December 14, 2007 at 11:21 AM

I still dont trust ANY of these Rasmussen polls.
Always Right on December 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM

I’m sorry but Rasmussen is one of the most respected pollsters. Huckabee’s rise in Iowa started long before Rasmussen even started polling there. If you look at realclearpolitics , Huckabee started to rise in late august in a non Rasmussen polls. Other polling companies showed the same rise before all the news of the Huckaboom. Huckabee has gotten as much press from his increase in the polls as he would if he won Iowa which has resulted in his rise in polls in other states. No conspiracy just good press and a dissatisfied primary electorate.

Complete7 on December 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM

Could we maybe get them to hear “render unto Caesar” and thereby recognize that we are choosing a president, not a pastor?

thirteen28 on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM

Excellent point.

His views on “church-state” are horrible. He does not
subscribe at all to the Reformed 2 Kingdom View of State/Church, which would easily prevent a lot of errors Huckabee is bound to make as president.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM

There are many of us evangelical Christians who strongly
oppose Mike Huckabee as President.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM

How is that opposition manifested at church, especially at the mega-churches mentioned above, where I inferred that Huck has been identified as the one.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM

There are many of us evangelical Christians who strongly
oppose Mike Huckabee as President.

Riiight. Just like allllll the “Moderate Muslims” who oppose Jihad.

thareb on December 14, 2007 at 11:24 AM

I’m sorry but Rasmussen is one of the most respected pollsters.

Complete7 on December 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM

So I keep hearing. But how does a candidate (Huck) soar that high in Florida with no money and no organization in the state?

I’m with foggy. I’m willing to wait till real humans actually vote.

techno_barbarian on December 14, 2007 at 11:25 AM

Are the preachers, ministers, pastors, and other church leaders out there campaigning for Huck every Sunday from the pulpits, perhaps?

I’m an occasional church-goer at best, like Reagan and Thompson, so I don’t know what’s being preached from the pulpits about the candidates. Anyone have some experience or insight to share on that?

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:26 AM

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?

freakagriep on December 14, 2007 at 11:27 AM

If church leaders are campaigning for Huck to their congregations every Sunday, that would go a long way toward explaining why and how Huck could rise so dramatically in such a short period of time with no money and no organization. The church is his organization, and its leaders are campaigning for him for free.

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:28 AM

How is that opposition manifested at church, especially at the mega-churches mentioned above, where I inferred that Huck has been identified as the one.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM

You are right that the mega-churches are swarming over Huckabee.

Riiight. Just like allllll the “Moderate Muslims” who oppose Jihad.

thareb on December 14, 2007 at 11:24 AM

Heh.

I am trying to be optimistic here.

Yes, unfortunately Huckabee is capitalizing on this “pastor image” in large megachurches, etc.

For my part, I am just trying to spread the news of what a Huckabee presidency would really look like to my fellow evangelicals. And after they hear that, they usually change their minds.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM

I’m with foggy. I’m willing to wait till real humans actually vote.

techno_barbarian on December 14, 2007 at 11:25 AM

Ditto. I don’t believe these polls. Huck is FATALLY flawed on about ten levels. Oh, I consider myself an “evangelical” and I hate can’t stand the guy.

edgehead on December 14, 2007 at 11:31 AM

You are right that the mega-churches are swarming over Huckabee.

Is there any evidence of that? And if so, should we start to examine their tax status?

ChrisM on December 14, 2007 at 11:31 AM

:-)

EduardoOTI on December 14, 2007 at 11:32 AM

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?

People who like lipstick on a pig.

What’s so amazing here is that if you look at him on the issues he’s not conservative.

It’s a stretch even to call him a Christian!! He’s just a damned liar making a sucker out of a bunch of fools who go mentally blank when he tells them he’s a Pastor!! I don’t usually subscribe to the liberal idea that “Most people are too stupid for their own good”, but just this once I may make an exception.

And the LACK OF BALLS in the Thompson, Giuliani, and Romney camps is appalling.

If the Republican Party is foolish and stupid enough to nominate him I will be voting Democrat. If we’re going over the cliff I’m going with my eyes WIDE OPEN.

thareb on December 14, 2007 at 11:36 AM

Huck is FATALLY flawed on about ten levels. Oh, I consider myself an “evangelical” and I can’t stand the guy.

edgehead on December 14, 2007 at 11:31 AM

Agreed.

I do think this Huckabee-mania is kinda over-hype.

Once evangelicals on Christmas day start opening the gift and discover what the “package of a Huckabee Presidency” really means, then they will easily discard the gift as a waste. The key for us is to encourage all GOP voters to more carefully examine the package before Christmas day.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 11:38 AM

anyone seen the lastest SC poll? Huck leads of course but Rupaul has cracked double digits, even though last place is only 6% behind 2nd place(thompson).

They need to start going after this clown and expose him for the lunatic that he is, instead of ignoring like they have been. Some evangelical christians are getting on board the paul train, ignorantly. They falsely view him as a “constitutionalist” and “pro-life”, two things that aren’t really true when examined but easy to politicize. And are fed up with all other regular Republicans.

jp on December 14, 2007 at 11:42 AM

For my part, I am just trying to spread the news of what a Huckabee presidency would really look like to my fellow evangelicals. And after they hear that, they usually change their minds.

I’ve been trying to do the same. Huckabee’s support is relatively shallow, and I’m surprised the other candidates haven’t capitalized on that.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 11:44 AM

To all the evangelicals (or whoever is backing the Huckster):

This can only lead to one of two possibilities -

1. At least four years of a Democrat controlled White House and Congress.
2. A manifestly unqualified, shamelessly opportunistic closet liberal as President.

Neither one of these is good for the country or your interests. Please reconsider and step back from the abyss. If you can’t stomach Rudy or Mitt, then throw your support behind Fred (McCain is still beyond the pale) and we’ll go along.

cool breeze on December 14, 2007 at 11:47 AM

THE END IS NEIGH

This is very scary. If it is true, I feel very alone.

Maybe it’ll be easier to put the hawk back in and take the socialist out the Dems than to take the religious nut jobs out of the Repubs.

tommylotto on December 14, 2007 at 11:48 AM

I fully expect that Rudy will be coming after Huckabee full-force now that Huck is a threat in Rudy’s must-have Florida.

Romney will fight Huck hard for Iowa. Thompson will fight him hard for South Carolina. And Rudy will fight him hard for Florida. They should be coming after Huck from all directions now.

Okay, guys–we’re waiting! Let the fur fly. Any time now…

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:53 AM

Huckaboom and Hillabust

If this take is right, the Dims may be getting ready to ditch their least likely to beat the Republican nominee candidate and the Reps may be getting ready to nominate their least likely to beat the Dims candidate.

Oh $hit.

MB4 on December 14, 2007 at 11:53 AM

tommylotto on December 14, 2007 at 11:48 AM

You attack dogs have been spending all your energy going after the wrong scary social con, it would seem. Why don’t you turn the full force of that anti-Fred fire hose against Huck now?

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM

Lowry thinks we’re bound to be slaughtered in the general with Huckabee as the nominee

Boy does that guy ever have a gift for the obvious.

MB4 on December 14, 2007 at 11:56 AM

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?

I have met, and respected the opinion of, some of these people. Here are a few chararcteristics:

Could never vote for anyone not 100% against abortion.
Don’t live or die politics.
Traditionally would favor Democrats, but were driven from that party.

There are many people whoo fit in this camp, and this is over and above the Evangelicals who are with him for identity politics.

sweeper on December 14, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Peggy Noonan asks this morning: Would Ronald Reagan be insufficiently pious for today’s GOP Sunnis?

Another commentator with a gift for the obvious.
Reagan, Lincoln, Jefferson.

MB4 on December 14, 2007 at 12:00 PM

We coulda’ had Fred in the lead spot now but the “conservative elite-ocracy” decided to force Rudy and/or Mitt down the throats of conservatives and do all in thier power to NEGATE Fred.
Well done, pundits- you’re the Dr. Frankenstein to the Huckamonster!

Ex-tex on December 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM

You attack dogs have been spending all your energy going after the wrong scary social con, it would seem. Why don’t you turn the full force of that anti-Fred fire hose against Huck now?

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM

For the record, Huck sucks far worse than Thompson on every concievable level that could possibly matter in a POTUS. Although he does actually have executive experience, though most of that is governing as a liberal in a center-right state and granting clemency and pardons on a level that would make Bill Clinton seem sexually frustrated.

BKennedy on December 14, 2007 at 12:04 PM

YEEEEEAAAARRRRGHGGHHHH!!!

saint kansas on December 14, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Thanks for that. I am so depressed.

Problem is that your average Republican knows two things about Huck at this point: 1) he’s a Republican 2) he’s a Baptist minister

All things being equal at this point, since they can’t really discriminate b/w the candidates on the issues, the social cons and the fundies are gonna gravitate towards Huck.

The majority of people at my neighborhood block party did not even know who Mike Huckabee is. That tells me there IS some opportunity forthe other candidates to still define him with ads and by getting the message out about his horrible positions and past policies/decisions. I sure hope the social cons do end up recoiling in horror like the more enlightened social con commenters here are…..

RW Wacko on December 14, 2007 at 12:05 PM

I’m just going to throw this out there…

Whomever gets the nomination, lets just pray they choose Duncan Hunter as the VP. It looks like he doesn’t have a shot in hell of getting the nomination this year, but can anyone argue a bad point of having Duncan Hunter as our President? So, as a VP, he can set himself up to be the President in eight years.

Thoughts?

Vincenzo on December 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM

I’ve been trying to do the same. Huckabee’s support is relatively shallow, and I’m surprised the other candidates haven’t capitalized on that.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 11:44 AM

I have benefitted from your posts in the past.

Your article on Huckabee at Ace of Spades was excellent.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM

We coulda’ had Fred in the lead spot now but the “conservative elite-ocracy” decided to force Rudy and/or Mitt down the throats of conservatives and do all in thier power to NEGATE Fred.
Well done, pundits- you’re the Dr. Frankenstein to the Huckamonster!

Ex-tex on December 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM

Fred negated himself. Remember that Fred started out as the annointed one on par with Rudy in the polls, and he’s done nothing but backslide ever since. Fred squandered his momentum and his chance to shine, don’t blame the MSM for the fact Fred couldn’t campaign his way out of a paper bag.

BKennedy on December 14, 2007 at 12:08 PM

Some evangelical christians are getting on board the paul train, ignorantly. They falsely view him as a “constitutionalist” and “pro-life”, two things that aren’t really true when examined but easy to politicize. And are fed up with all other regular Republicans.

jp on December 14, 2007 at 11:42 AM

Good point. I have seen this myself. The “Constitutionalist” angle is very appealing to many evangelicals, and Ron Paul is milking it big-time.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:08 PM

Whomever gets the nomination, lets just pray they choose Duncan Hunter as the VP.

TRANSLATION: If the evangelicals are stupid enough to take the country down the toilet with a closet liberal, lets just hope they have the good sense to numb the pain by electing a legitimate conservative for vice president.

Thank you evangelicals! Thank you so very much for using vaseline!!

thareb on December 14, 2007 at 12:09 PM

So, as a VP, he can set himself up to be the President in eight four years.

Thoughts?

Vincenzo on December 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM

Fixed.

thirteen28 on December 14, 2007 at 12:10 PM

This is very scary. If it is true, I feel very alone.

Maybe it’ll be easier to put the hawk back in and take the socialist out the Dems than to take the religious nut jobs out of the Repubs.

You are not alone. There are a lot of peoplle like myself who will feel they have no choice but to do exactly that if the Huckster is nominated.

Huckabee supporters who are blind to everything but someone’s religion are just a few steps away from being Christian versions of the jihadis.

cool breeze on December 14, 2007 at 12:11 PM

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM

Thanks. I’m not sure how much good it will do, and I’m trying not to allow my increasing frustration to cloud my writing.

What has bothered me is the attitude of some of the true-blue Huckabee supporters. I’ve been called an “Evangelical In Name Only” and worse for criticizing Huckabee by other Christians. In some quarters, support for Huckabee is turning into a yardstick of how faithful a believer you are.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:11 PM

Didn’t Huckabee once offer to take Fred up on his proposal to have Lincoln-Douglas style one-on-one debates? And Fred ignored him because at the time Huck was a nobody? Maybe it’s time for Fred to accept Huck’s challenge. Fred would pwn Huck on the issues. Huck’s trademark charm and delivery might not be able to withstand 90 minutes head-to-head on the serious issues. His weaknesses would have to show through in that format, I would think.

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:19 AM

That would actually be good to use and see. It plays to Thompson’s strenths (wonkery) and negate’s Huck’s (one-liners and pedantry).

The only concern would be that a split between Mitt and Fred gives room for Rudy to wiggle through.

BKennedy on December 14, 2007 at 12:13 PM

Huckabee supporters who are blind to everything but someone’s religion are just a few steps away from being Christian versions of the jihadis.

That’s ridiculous. I agree that Huckabee’s rise is frustrating, but let’s try to keep the rhetoric at a simmer instead of a full rolling boil maybe?

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:14 PM

AP, can you offer a reasonable explanation? Can anyone? I refuse to believe it’s solely a faith issue.

World B. Free on December 14, 2007 at 10:54 AM

Ummmm… pheromones? :)

FloatingRock on December 14, 2007 at 12:16 PM

It’s happening because SoCons are idiots who would vote for Satan if he was pro-life and dressed like the Pope.

mylegsareswollen on December 14, 2007 at 12:16 PM

What has bothered me is the attitude of some of the true-blue Huckabee supporters. I’ve been called an “Evangelical In Name Only” and worse for criticizing Huckabee by other Christians. In some quarters, support for Huckabee is turning into a yardstick of how faithful a believer you are.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:11 PM

Just keep on pointing them to the ultimate yardstick, the Bible alone. The Bible does not support the unbiblical ideas of “church-state” that Huckabee endorses.

We need to keep on explaining to fellow Christians the Reformed 2 Kingdom (”God and Caesar” view) view, and how this relates directly to a nanny-state, open borders, uncontrolled spending of a Huckabee presidency.

What should matter to individual Christians is the authority of Scripture. And Huckabee’s ideas and views are contrary to Scripture.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:20 PM

it’s all been done with no money and no endorsement more significant than Chuck Norris’s

And you doubt the power of Chuck?

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:20 PM

…support for Huckabee is turning into a yardstick of how faithful a believer you are.

That is some scary sh!t right there.

ChrisM on December 14, 2007 at 12:21 PM

What has bothered me is the attitude of some of the true-blue Huckabee supporters. I’ve been called an “Evangelical In Name Only” and worse for criticizing Huckabee by other Christians. In some quarters, support for Huckabee is turning into a yardstick of how faithful a believer you are.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:11 PM

You know you’re over the target when you start taking fire. F— them. If their dumbassery drags the Republican Party over a cliff and throws away a shot at actually winning the election, all of us–including them–are screwed. Fanatics pretty much by definition can’t be reasoned with, but you can still try to reach the ones that haven’t turned their brains off yet.

ReubenJCogburn on December 14, 2007 at 12:21 PM

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:20 PM

Yeah, his record on clemency seems the strongest arrow in the quiver. Not just Dumond, but all of it – there’s still a lot of support for the Romans 13 view of law and order.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:26 PM

Slublog,

Well, what would you call a worldview that sees everything through the prism of religion to the exclusion of just about everything else?

I did say “a few steps away”. After all, there have only been a few abortion clinics bombed or burned and a few doctors stalked or killed.

See also your comment that “…support for Huckabee is turning into a yardstick of how faithful a believer you are”

Scary indeed.

cool breeze on December 14, 2007 at 12:27 PM

… no endorsement more significant than Chuck Norris’s.

The only the endorsement that really matters.

The endorsement from Chuck presented Americans with a choice: Vote for Huck, or die a painfully violent death.

I’m just thankful I don’t live in a “key early primary” state. Republican voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are terrified that Chuck Norris will discover they’re leaning toward Fred Thompson and then late one night, Chuck will show up … FWAP! BOOM! BAM!

So ignore the polls. People may say they’re planning to vote for other candidates, but it’s kind of hard to vote when you’re in a coma.

Ali-Bubba on December 14, 2007 at 12:30 PM

cool breeze on December 14, 2007 at 12:27 PM

I should clarify that is a very few, but I think shows the depth of support among his more committed supporters.

However, there still exists a vast, gaping canyon between calling me and others names and sawing off the heads of those who disagree.

So no, I still don’t accept the comparison as a valid one.

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:33 PM

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:26 PM

If this was political brinkmanship (which I don’t think it is) designed to anoint Mitt or Fred and exile Rudy, I would be impressed.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 12:33 PM

What should matter to individual Christians is the authority of Scripture. And Huckabee’s ideas and views are contrary to Scripture.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:20 PM

While ignoring the Biblical distinctions between secular State and the Church, Huckabee often uses “religious language to justify” his proposals for government intervention in many sectors.

That is scary for me, and I am an evangelical Christian.

Evangelical Christians are called to influence the world for the supremacy of Jesus Christ through the impact of individual lives personally transformed and changed by embracing the Gospel.

God’s work is done through individual hearts changed, and not through the coercive threats or powers of government.

That is why, in a real sense, all committed Bible-believing Christians should be “conservative-libertarians to a degree” because we all agree that government activity cannot change or impact the human heart.

The fact that Huckabee uses religious language taken out of proper context in order to justify his left-wing proposals really bothers me. He ignores the Biblical text, and he adds his left wing ideas.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:35 PM

I think that the polls have not yet caught up to the last two weeks of bad press Huck has been getting, and that he should start to bleed support that registers in polling very soon. If it doesn’t start happening by Christmas, however, I’m going to get very worried. Get on that bus, Fred, and start canvassing Iowa!

Dudley Smith on December 14, 2007 at 12:38 PM

You attack dogs have been spending all your energy going after the wrong scary social con, it would seem. Why don’t you turn the full force of that anti-Fred fire hose against Huck now?

aero on December 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM

Had I known the Huckaboom was coming I would have paid attention to him. This caught me totally by surprise. I know nothing about the guy, except he doesn’t believe in science, wants to quarantine gays, likes to raise taxes and free murders, what else is there … oh and he is a religious bigot and completely unelectable. Did I miss anything.

The problem is, no one here likes Huck. Bashing him here is like yelling in an echo chamber. This Huckaboom is an uncontrolable ground swell from some unknown source. Very scary — or just media hyped (I hope).

tommylotto on December 14, 2007 at 12:40 PM

He’s pulling support from Fred and Giulliani. Mostly Fred.

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:44 PM

tommylotto on December 14, 2007 at 12:40 PM

Here is his website:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:45 PM

He’s pulling support from Fred and Giulliani. Mostly Fred.

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:44 PM

How could Huck be pulling support from the social liberal Rudy? And if he’s pulling support from Fred, then Fred is bound to win once this craze fades.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 12:46 PM

Governor Huckabee will also be a guest on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” program with host Robert Siegel. (The interview will air on NPR between 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET.)

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:46 PM

How could Huck be pulling support from the social liberal Rudy? And if he’s pulling support from Fred, then Fred is bound to win once this craze fades.

JiangxiDad on December 14, 2007 at 12:46 PM

Don’t know. Just reporting what Rasmussen is showing.

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:47 PM

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:08 PM

SC is home to the “Christian Exodus” movement, trying to seceed from union….anyway, they are getting behind paul along with others in the Reformed camp. They are good people but politically ignorant as well as historically. Of course biblical “Christian Theocracy” is best described as having a Radical Libertarian Civil Govt., so its easy to see how some of them head this way.

We don’t have to worry about the pre-mil baptist getting on board…..and I’m not sure how to take that to be honest.

As for Huck and his views, I think he summed them up well in that article Bryan posted last week. We have more laws, taxes and Govt. because sin is on the rise. He’s basically arguing there is a need, increasing need, for this stuff because of where people are and are going theologically. This is something the Libertarians don’t understand, ultimately the govt. is going to reflect the culture, unless you have a dictatorship……..I do think Huckabee goes too far though with alot of his govt. ideas, seeing a need for something when there is an alternative he doesn’t understand.

jp on December 14, 2007 at 12:48 PM

jp on December 14, 2007 at 12:48 PM

You have articulated many good points above.

Thank you.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:54 PM

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 12:35 PM

That’s all true, but can get too idealistic and is for many. Last year Ben House wrote a great column called: “Political Pragmatism” that all Calvinist should read:

Political Pragmatism

I liked this part:

After all, the Westminster Standards came into being by government directive and Parliamentary sponsorship. Being a Calvinist doesn’t help. After all, Calvin’s Geneva had government subsidies for schools, welfare, hospitals, and other agencies, with a fair share of government involvement in church matters.

jp on December 14, 2007 at 12:56 PM

Hokeybee is telling Christians what they WANT to hear. Never mind his record or the fact that a HLA will NEVER EVER become reality, they feel better when he tells them he supports it.
Hope they wake up to reality before too long. We can differ over which GOP candidate could defeat Hill/Obama/Edwards but is a certain that Huck would get destroyed in the general. He is a boob.

Gatordoug on December 14, 2007 at 12:57 PM

Gatordoug on December 14, 2007 at 12:57 PM

Calling people names is not going to win any points for our cause

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM

but can anyone argue a bad point of having Duncan Hunter as our President? So, as a VP, he can set himself up to be the President in eight years.

Thoughts?

Vincenzo on December 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM

If Christian fundamentalists successfully take over the party it is highly unlikely they will select Hunter for their VP. Hunter is my first choice for the nomination, but I wouldn’t vote for a Huck/Hunter ticket. It wouldn’t matter anyway because there’s no chance that Huck/anybody can take the White House.

If Huck and the evangelicals take over the Party I would rather vote for Fred/Hunter or Fred/Mitt as part of a new conservative party sans the religious loonies.

FloatingRock on December 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM

jp on December 14, 2007 at 12:56 PM

You have given me some things to intellectually wrestle over. I was not aware of the information which you posted.

Thank you very much for your good comments.

ColtsFan on December 14, 2007 at 1:03 PM

This isn’t passing the smell test. Just exactly who are they polling? Also, I wouldn’t be surprised for states that have “open” primaries for Democrats to cross over and vote for Huckabee just to sabotage the republicans.

crosspatch on December 14, 2007 at 1:04 PM

bnelson44 on December 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM

It is called honesty, would you prefer “inexperienced” “mis-guided”, I am not trying to influence anyone here. I expressed an opinion. That opinion is that Huck is telling Evangelicals what he knows they want to hear. And, they are foolish enough to eat it up.

Gatordoug on December 14, 2007 at 1:05 PM

crosspatch on December 14, 2007 at 1:04 PM

Interesting point. We all know some polls are RESULTS oriented.

Gatordoug on December 14, 2007 at 1:07 PM

Slublog on December 14, 2007 at 12:33 PM

My comment was specifically addressed to “Huckabee supporters who are blind to everything but someone’s religion”, so I was not calling you names. As for anyone else, “If the shoe fits…”.

Yes, the comparison is somewhat overdrawn at this point in time, but aren’t we always told that it is just “a few” Muslim extremists causing trouble, not the “vast majority” who are moderates? Nevertheless, by the time you have a few “more committed supporters” bombing things and a huge swath of the “moderates” taking leave of their senses in an election (think Ahmadinejad), you can fairly conclude that you’ve got a serious problem with religious nut jobs.

cool breeze on December 14, 2007 at 1:07 PM

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