Republican friend with RNC batcave access says Huckabee may be sleeper GOP nominee

[zulchzulu]

A friend of mine, who just so happens to be a Republican and has worked for several Republican governors and been the communications director for several campaigns, originally thought that Romney would be the nominee for the GOP in 2008.

He's watched Mitt be pathetic and has seen how he's virtually unelectable with most Southern GOP voters. His choice now?

Mike Huckabee...

As one GOP blogger says:
"For those who haven’t yet made up their mind on a Presidential Candidate, let me tell ya that Governor Huckabee is truly an incredible man. He’s just like he comes off on the camera, as he acts in person. He’s down to earth, funny, and truly exudes his humble Arkansas roots."

He's lost weight:


He play bass guitar:


..and he's a Southern governor with the usual political menu of religious right messages...

Heads up, y'all.

Please...if you don't want to lose your appetite, don't click:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm

[pcmcgovern]

1. He Comes Across As Likeable!

Worst of all is that he comes across as likeable and reasonable! I watched him on Bill Maher's show a couple of months ago. I can't agree with a wide range of things that the man actually says but there is no visceral 'George Bush' reaction when I hear him speak. This is a bit different than most of the Republican field. That makes him <b>very</b> dangerous if he creeps into contention for the GOP nominiation.

[zulchzulu]

4. Welcome to DU!

Bathroom down the hall, beer in the fridge, bong on the table near the Kucinich fans...

:rofl:

[JerseygirlCT]

27. Welcome, and I agree. Have been saying this for months! nt

[rep the dems]

2. That's what I thought a few months ago, but I just don't see it now.

Not much money, people still don't seem to notice him, and he's too much like Brownback. I still think it's either going to be Romney or Thompson.

[BearSquirrel2]

3. If Romney is the nominee ...

If Romney is the nominee, I suspect he'll be depicted as a dolphin in Dunesberry.

Think about it ;-)

[rep the dems]

7. I think I got it

;)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. But "President Huckabee" does not roll tripplingly off the tongue.

Interesting to contemplate the running mate who would produce the most awkward bumper sticker. Huckabee/Sununu, maybe?

[rep the dems]

6. The first time my dad heard his name on the news he said:

"President Huckabee...No, I don't think so." :rofl:

[karynnj]

21. Oddly, when my then 16 year old heard it, she thought it was funny

and thought it would be a good name for a President - we're hoping she matures before the genral election when she will be able to cast her first vote.

[rep the dems]

33. Is she actually a fan of his though, or is she a Democrat?

My dad almost voted for Bush in 2004 (he's now very glad he didn't) and I know I probably would have had a big argument with him if he had, just like my mom did when her parents voted for Nixon in the 70's. :patriot:

[karynnj]

34. She was simply being silly

because of the name - thinking it funny to have a President Huckabee. She is not very political at this point - she thinks Bush is a disaster and dislikes him as much as I do but also doesn't like Bill Clinton.

[rep the dems]

36. Well that's ok. I'm actually not a huge Clinton fan, but of course I'd

happily vote for him over Bush.

My sister's boyfriend had another funny remark about Huckabee. I was watching the first GOP Debate and he commented that none of them looked Presidential. Then when he saw Huckabee he said "I mean, I could picture that guy being the manager of a grocery store or something." I had never thought of that, but I think it was dead on :rofl:

[Chomskyite]

8. But he'd be hard to control

Some of his Arkansas policies were downright progressive compared to the agenda of the corporate fascists above him on the toteboard. He's put in a program in Arkansas to cover all children's healthcare regardless of income. No one who has done that will get the big money and the big backing.

[jaysunb]

9. I've been saying along...

"watch out for this guy !"

He brings the Khristians and the Fundies. It's really a "no brainer."

[Cha]

10. The only problem is..

he's a brain dead republicon.

[Clintonista2]

11. Is this the same RNC friend who convinced you that Clinton "let Osama go"?

You need to stop making threads based on RW "sources"

[aquart]

12. No Republican who could actually win will run in 2008.

They're going to let the Democrats clean up their mess and then come back.

[More Than A Feeling]

13. He killed it when he denied evolution on national television.

Thanks for playing, Governor.

[PBass]

14. He doesn't have a hope in hell.

Just because your Republican friend gave him a good review, doesn't mean squat.

As far as Huckabee "bringing the fundies" well IMO that is the crucial Republican problem in 2008... all their candidates are either too "Crazy for Jesus" or just not "Crazy for Jesus" enough. In other words, none of their candidates can appeal to both the fundamentalist Christians AND the conservatives who are nervous about voting for another candidate who "listens to God" more than he listens to his advisors. Bush built a coalition between those two factions in 2000, and the GOP doesn't have anybody that can do that again... none of their candidates are entirely credible, as well as appealing, to both factions.

Hell I hope Huckabee jumps out in front for the Republicans. He'll get his ass kicked just as easily as any of the other GOP clowns running in 2008.

[zulchzulu]

28. He's backpedaled like Brownback on the Apeshit Issue

I think I saw him on Meet The Russert where he meant to say that both "intelligent design" and evolution should be considered in schools, Blockbuster, Denny's and other GOP hangouts.

[saltpoint]

15. He'll be on their veep shortlist. Brownback will drive Huckabee from the

presidential race with a strong 2nd place in Iowa.

As for Tommy Thompson, I'm not expecting him to survive the GOP race beyond Labor Day, if he lasts that long. The GOP straw poll is soon and so I'm thinking the Tomy Thompson crew should probably send out their resumes pronto. T.Thompson has nearly zero appeal. My greatest fear is that he'll drop out of the GOP prez race and return to Wisconsin to run again for governor. Yuck.

Huckabee is smart. I'm not saying your GOP pal is wrong, but at the moment it does feel as if Brownback is outflanking him in Iowa.

[Hippo_Tron]

16. There is no such thing as a GOP sleeper candidate

The GOP establishment anoints a candidate and that candidate wins the nomination. It has been that way since primaries became a big deal and obviously it was that way when party insiders just chose the candidate outright. The closest that model has ever come to breaking is in 2000 when McCain gave Bush a damn good run for his money (unfortunately for McCain, Bush had plenty of it).

This time there happen to be three anointed candidates (Giuliani, Thompson, and Romney). But the nomination will not be won by anybody but one of these three.

[Eurobabe]

23. GOP sleeper cells yes, sleeping candidates yes n/t

[Yukari Yakumo]

17. I... don't think so.

Veep nominee, OTOH, is a possibility for either the Ghoul or Mitt, but not Fred.

[bklyncowgirl]

18. The fundies may go for Huckabee but he's probably not acceptable to Big Money.

Big Money will make the final call and usually the Fundies go along with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The were cool on Bush Sr. but Dubya made a point of speaking their language and they became his strongest supporters.

Big Money likes Romney but the Fundies aren't buying. Huck's sort of a populist Fundie type and not acceptable to Big Money. McCain in the past has pissed of both Big Money and the Fundies--his drop in the polls has been predictable. Giuliani's a wack job with ethical problems but seems to be acceptable to both sides--go figure.

[Perry Logan]

19. It doesn't matter. The Republican Party is dead.

[zulchzulu]

31. Not if a nominee from the Dems fires up their base...

I won't mention names...but...

[LBJDemocrat]

20. Fat chance

He's a fair trade advocate (somewhat) who tells people what's good for their health (many Republicans hate feeling guilty about being obese). He's also hated by the right for building a Mexican consulate in Arkansas and for extending social services to illegal immigrants.

Edit: Plus, he has a D or F rating from Club for Growth.

[Eurobabe]

22. Wasn't he one of the 3 amigos for creationism?

Three chances at him getting the nod: FAT, SLIM and NONE. (no pun intended)

[beastieboy]

24. Good luck to them!

[TwilightGardener]

25. Tax-raiser. Psycho son. No foreign policy smarts.

Seems smooth and reasonable (being a preacher and all), but my impression was that he wasn't much beloved in Arkansas when he left--I could be wrong, just read that somewhere. Let's put it this way: the odds of TWO Presidents coming from the same tiny town in Arkansas are very, very slim. I think if a "new" candidate emerges, it won't be from the second tier--it will be either Newt or (going out on a limb here) Chuck Hagel. But the current frontrunners are still the most likely to get the nom. That's the way the GOP usually works.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. I'm telling you, Huckabee is the ONLY one of these clowns who

scares me at all.

He's SLICK. Totally knows how to play it. Makes his extreme positions look reasonable. Makes himself look like a regular, nice guy.

He's a radical wolf in moderate sheep's clothes.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. A dailykos'r crashed a conservative conference

in DC back in the early Spring and basically reported the same reaction you have here.
He is personable and "speaks their language". Apparently he makes a good impression on a lot of the GOP folk.
He also has a good personal story in his battle with diabetes. I think he is definitely someone to watch out for.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Daily Kos has had a weird obsession with Huckabee for a long time now--

I can't for the life of me figure out why the folks over there are so impressed by a singularly unimpressive man, but they keep saying, "watch out for him!" and nothing happens...because CONSERVATIVES don't like him. They're not looking for a true fundie this time, despite all the bitching about Rudy McThompney not being anti-abortion/anti-gay enough. They want a fiscal conservative, and that's what Huckabee is NOT.

[Totally Committed]

32. This is a man who doesn't believe in Evolution, fercripessake.

I've seen his position on "the issues" and they are horrendous.

Ugh. Maybe your friend is just playing with you. Hopefully.

TC

[rucky]

38. When has that ever kept republicans from voting for someone?

:shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

35. Sorry, down to earth, funny, incredible man, truly exudes humble ARK Roots,

are not enough...

What is this guy...a Bush Lite?...or a Clone...I gonna drink a beer w him?

Its the Philosophy...the Basic Thoughts/agenda/mission/Platforms/Planks/Direction/Goals/...the GOP Party is EMPTY of a good philosophy/mission...

Huck is Toast...sorry.

[zulchzulu]

37. Ames, Iowa straw poll has Huckabee in second at 18%

http://campaignsandelections.com/IA/articles/?ID=503

[seasat]

39. The problem is that Repugs are eating thier own this cycle.

The CATO institute and the Club for Growth are gunning for Huckabee. It seems that he reneged on a no taxes pledge while Arkansas Governor. He's tried to make amends for it by endorsing the "soak-the-middle-class" fair tax but they ain't buying it.

However, if he does manage to make it through the early part of the primary, he'll be the toughest of the Repugs in the general. He's got a populist streak that could appeal to economic moderates and has the best credibility of any Repug with the social conservatives. However, that's like saying that Moe was the smartest of the three stooges. Most of our candidates would still beat him.