Tuesday, February 05, 2008
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The Huckabee Dilemma
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
9:05 PM
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The fact is that, like it or not, conservatives have to face the fact that a lot of normal conservative-ish, Republican voters are going Huckabee because he's a charming evangelical and for McCain because he's a respected war veteran and war leader.
It rankles many (I think I'm actually more rankled by Huckabee than McCain, but I digress), but what happens to Huckabee now? His gains will be dwarfed by McCain's and Romney's in winner-take-all states, but the gains are substantial enough and in an important enough region and demographic to warrant some serious consideration about where he goes from here if he doesn't win the nomination.
Matt mentioned the Huckabee vice-presidency for McCain (or Romney). That makes some more sense for Romney, I think, although the two of them don't care much for each other. For McCain, doesn't the Huckabee vice-presidency knock the legs out from under all his independent support? Although it would seem to be a decent choice on paper since he's Southern and evangelical, every moderate/libertarian Republican or Independent I know would seriously consider sitting out instead of voting for a ticket with Huckabee on it.
The thing about McCain, though, is he has this self-destructive political tick, which would not surprise me if it kicked in and compelled him to pick Huckabee as his veep. After all, Mac likes Huck, and in Mac's mind, that's usually reason enough to make a huge decision. After all, "politically unpopular" is akin to validation for every decision for McCain isn't it?
And, if Huckabee doesn't get a veep slot, does it tick off evangelicals enough to sit home? The party surely can't afford to spurn a guy with this much natural support in such an important constituency too easily. There are reasons people are for him, even though I don't agree with them.
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Who won't vote for McCain. The personal hardships I dealt with during the banking scandal will remain unforgiven until McCain makes restitution.
That scandal had such an impact on the economy that it was a major factor in the economic problems that pushed Clinton into the White House in 1992. McCain is ANATHEMA to me. |
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Seems to me maybe someone should wonder about Romney. He seems to be the one so far taking the bronze to use his terminology. |
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Huckabee writes a few more books, goes on all the talk shows, maybe a speaking tour. Campaigns with local candidates in congressional elections and runs again in 2012.
Reagan took a couple at bats to get a hit. |
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I just saw you on Fox News. Very good interview, you seemed very composed. |
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