GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
Here is a Taste of what they are saying about Huck….
Joe Klein’s book about Bill Clinton was titled “The Natural,” but Huck is showing again tonight that the 42nd president isn’t the only gifted pol to come out of Hope, Ark.
Asked a smart-alecky answer about “What Would Jesus Do” regarding the death penalty, Huckabee deftly dodged: “Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office.”
Huge laughs in the audience and even in the press filing center.
Then, when a rather dour young man held up the Bible and demanded to know if the candidates believed every word therein, Huck preempted Rudy.
“I can help you out on this one, mayor,” said the former Baptist preacher.
Again, huge laughs.
Then, when Huckabee’s turn came to answer the question, he won applause after Rudy and Mitt struggled with the question a bit.
If Huckabee’s camp can’t raise money off this performance (so far) then the Internet is down in Little Rock.
But it was Mike Huckabee who may have had the best night.
Put aside the issues for a moment. Don’t you get the sense that Huckabee comes across as an extremely effective communicator? Whether you agree with him or not, it seemed like every issue he talked about Wednesday had a well thought out, coherent argument behind it. When he speaks, the tone and words flow harmoniously. I mean his answer about the Bible being the word of God came across as humble, accurate and inclusive. Hard to do. On a question about “What would Jesus do” when it comes to the death penalty, Huckabee’s answer was heartfelt conflict yet strong. And then this line of the debate: “Jesus was too smart to run for public office!” Even on the tricky question of whether he’ll accept the endorsement of the gay Log Cabin Republicans group, Huckabee said that he needs all the help he can get. So sure he’ll accept but won’t change his position on same sex marriage. He even said he wants to be that group’s President and everybody’s President. Good answer, right? Or how about the line about space exploration when he said, “Maybe Hillary can be on the first rocket to Mars.”
Huckabee really didn’t come under attack tonight. At one point Mitt Romney got on him for Huckabee’s desire to see the children of illegal immigrants get tax payer funded money for college but Huckabee’s answer came across as compassionate and reasonable. He didn’t get harmed. It was a night where Huckabee could have been a major target. Instead, he continues to move right along. He’s tied for first in Iowa and you can see why after tonight’s performance. His eloquence on stage is what he’s doing on the campaign trail everyday.
Yet again Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) served as a foil for each of the Republican candidates who fell all over themselves to see who can offer the most pointed criticism of Clinton. Huckabee, the most gifted debater of the bunch, won. Asked about the space program and expanding it to Mars, Huckabee quipped: “Maybe Hillary could be on the first rocket to Mars.”
Our quick read: Giuliani and Romney largely cancelled one another out; each had strong moments but also stumbled at times. Huckabee was clearly on his game tonight although he disappeared a bit in the second half of the debate when the focus turned from domestic policy to foreign policy.
Huckabee actually won. I wasn’t a fan of his previous debate performances, but he dialed down the schtick. This was a debate performance he needed at a critical time.
Mike Huckabee scored the debate points on rhetoric and is the winner of this debate. He did really well. He showed up Romney. He showed up Rudy. If Mike could convince me he’s actually a free market guy, I’d be tempted.
Tired of Huck or not, I suspect that he has helped himself more than any other candidate on stage tonight. He’s clearly on the rise in Iowa and South Carolina, and perhaps elsewhere, and my guess is that people who are considering supporting him liked what they saw tonight.
Now, who won among the candidates? I’d have to lean towards Mike Huckabee. He steered clear of personal attacks, allowed his natural personality to emerge, and used his sense of humor to great effect. If people wonder why Huckabee has made a major move in Iowa, they saw why.
Check out the Official Poll
The Florida survey conducted with the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed the following results:
Huckabee: 44%
Giulani: 18%
Romney: 13%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 5%
Paul: 4%
Hunter: 1%
Tancredo: 1%
Rest: undecidedThe survey of 341 Republicans who stated they were undecided, intended to watch the debate and agreed to phone in their opinion immediately after the ending was weighted for age and gender. It has a margin of error of +/- 6%.
A survey of Iowa Republicans of over 1,035 Iowa Republicans taken in the last twenty minutes of the debate showed Huckabee the winner in that state as well. The numbers virtually mirrored Florida. They were:
Huckabee: 32%
Romney: 16%
Giuliani: 12%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 7%
Paul: 6%
Tancredo: 2%
Hunter: 0%
Rest: undecidedInterestingly, the Iowa poll did not survey only undecided voters. Yet, both a survey of undecided voters in Florida and a general survey in Iowa showed Huckabee the winner.
In the media Spin Room, most of the major candidates were left with little if any media attention as virtually all print and broadcast media circled Governor Huckabee.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Huck won, check out the numbers:
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_1128_53.aspx
November 29th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Mitt lost Iowa tonight.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:21 am
Don’t forget the Southern Political Report…I think this is very telling:
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/
The Florida survey conducted with the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed the following results:
Huckabee: 44%
Giulani: 18%
Romney: 13%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 5%
Paul: 4%
Hunter: 1%
Tancredo: 1%
Rest: undecided
The survey of 341 Republicans who stated they were undecided, intended to watch the debate and agreed to phone in their opinion immediately after the ending was weighted for age and gender. It has a margin of error of +/- 6%.
A survey of Iowa Republicans of over 1,035 Iowa Republicans taken in the last twenty minutes of the debate showed Huckabee the winner in that state as well. The numbers virtually mirrored Florida. They were:
Huckabee: 32%
Romney: 16%
Giuliani: 12%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 7%
Paul: 6%
Tancredo: 2%
Hunter: 0%
Rest: undecided
Interestingly, the Iowa poll did not survey only undecided voters. Yet, both a survey of undecided voters in Florida and a general survey in Iowa showed Huckabee the winner.
In the media Spin Room, most of the major candidates were left with little if any media attention as virtually all print and broadcast media circled Governor Huckabee.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:32 am
I’ll file this under, “The Republican Party is leaving me.”
Seriously though, I think it’s interesting that Bill Buckley and the NRO crew generally agree with my interpretation (that Romney won or McCain won or both) while RedState and the actual GOP voters seem to be giving Huck the win. It’s becoming pretty clear that the Republican Party now encompasses an entirely different group of voters than it did when Bill Buckley and others launched the conservative movement. If the GOP is now primarily a cultural institution comprised of voters who want government to promote certain values and demand that their candidates and fellow party members profess certain religious beliefs, well, then those folks can enjoy their minority status. And I’ll enjoy my registration as an Independent.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:40 am
When I said Huckabee won in the debate thread, people thought I was crazy. It had nothing to do with agreeing with him. Rather, it was about answering the questions, not getting into in real tussles with the other candidates, and coming across likeable.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:45 am
I agree with Ramesh Ponnuru that it was good day for Rudy because Huckabee won.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:59 am
6: Huck could easily decimate Rudy’s campaign
November 29th, 2007 at 2:22 am
[...] Rett Hatcher argues rather effectively with plenty of links to relevant commentary and polling data that, no, Huckabee ran away with it. [...]
November 29th, 2007 at 6:43 am
[...] wisdom would suggest that Mike Huckabee won. Even post debate polls give Huck a wide margin. But what did he win? Does the poll measure his [...]
November 29th, 2007 at 7:56 am
I don’t know what this people are smoking; if this candidates are running for Last Comedic Standing then Huckabee won but if this is a political debate he lost badly. He never answer any question, in the first hour was on the defensive side. I think Romney won this thing, follow by McCain and Thompson.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Before everyone starts salivating about what the pundits say, I’ll remind you that after the first debate, the pundits were all gaga over Rudy. That is, until the perceptions of the voters came in; overwhelmingly for Romney. I would suggest that the impression that most voters will come away with, is that Romney’s answers (especially on immigration and abortion) coincide with their views, contrary to the picture that has been painted previously.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I think Huckabee won with at least a triple, if he didn’t hit it out of the park.
Admittedly, I’m at least a little biased since I already support him, but I think people are getting tired of the cat fights between Guiliani and Romney (they don’t look very presidential), or Thompson grouching that noone is conservative but him.
My ranking of the majors:
1. Huckabee
2. McCain (I think he won the exchange on torture)
3. Thompson
4. Guiliani
5. Romney (won the opening tussle with Rudy, but lost on torture to McCain, and came off as too equivocating on a few questions)
November 29th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Irish Right,
Pundits AND surveys of voters are declaring Huckabee the winner, as cited above.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Mike Huckabee,he is real and has values this country needs to live like humans again
November 29th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I’m a Kucinch supporter, in Mike Huckabee I observe similar qualities. Honesty, moral integrity, compassion, and genuibne altruism. I don’t agree with the man 100% but I trust and respect his inherent goodness.
I think Mitt Romney is an obvious scum bag..