Huckabee Surging in SC?: The Swamp
 
The Swamp
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Posted January 18, 2008 1:05 PM
The Swamp

By Paul West

Baltimore Sun

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On the eve of Saturday's Republican primary in South Carolina, there are signs that Mike Huckabee could be overtaking John McCain, who had been favored to win the first southern test of the '08 campaign.

New polling over the last two days shows McCain and Huckabee statistically tied. At least one unreleased poll had Huckabee up by four points, while a Mason-Dixon poll for MSNBC-McClatchy had McCain's lead down to two points.

After his New Hampshire victory on Jan. 8, McCain grabbed the lead in opinion surveys in South Carolina, where he is hoping for redemption in the state that doomed his first try for the presidency, eight years ago. A defeat tomorrow could be similarly devastating.

From here, the race goes to Florida. Polls show a close four-way contest there among McCain, Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani heading into the Jan. 29 primary.

Romney abandoned South Carolina earlier this week for Nevada, where his only competition in tomorrow's Republican caucuses is Ron Paul, but he continues to invest heavily in TV advertising in South Carolina (as does Paul). Romney received no boost from his favorite-son victory in Michigan's primary earlier this week and Republican politicians in this state say he seems to be falling farther behind as undecided voters make up their mind.

South Carolina has been a pivotal contest in Republican presidential campaigns for more than a quarter-century. Since 1980, the winner here has gone on to win the nomination.

McCain's loss to George W. Bush after an unusually nasty campaign in 2000 effectively ended his chances of becoming the nominee. This time, he's got the support of much of the state's political establishment and is counting on military veterans and moderate conservatives to redeem that earlier defeat.

But the state's large evangelical Christian voting bloc, and growing fears about the economy and illegal immigration, could mean less attention to national security and terrorism, the issues McCain is emphasizing in his campaign.

 New figures released today showed the largest jump in unemployment in South Carolina since 1990, and the state's jobless rate is now the fourth highest in the country.

Huckabee is coupling his religious-themed candidacy with a strong dose of economic populism. The former Arkansas governor is also trying to appeal to regional pride, reminding voters that he speaks the way they do and eats the same foods, such as catfish and grits.

A similar down-home pitch by Fred Thompson, from neighboring Tennessee, has had much more limited success. The former senator is running well behind Huckabee and McCain, polls show. He appears likely to join other candidates, going back to John Connally of Texas in 1980, for whom South Carolina was the end of the trail.

One wild card that could influence the outcome on Saturday: Forecasts call for bad weather statewide, and especially in the "upstate" portions of the Piedmont plateau, where social and religious conservatives are concentrated. That could work to McCain's advantage, his supporters say.

But the conditions may have the opposite effect: by magnifying Huckabee's edge among Christian voters, who seem to be the ones who are the most motivated to turn out on Saturday.

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Comments

The funny thing is.. people are taking Huckabee seriously outside of the evangelical votes - like he actually brings something to the table that non-evangelicals are drawn to.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MGM4NjRmZWM3OWU1ZWM1ZmE2ZGVjOWE1YTUyNTY1YjU=


PRESIDENT MIKE HUCKABEE / VICE PRESIDENT JOHN MCCAIN 2008

More on Romney’s Leadership check out these links:
www.massresistance.org and http://rightsmart.blogspot.com/

See this video for Mitt Romney caught lying!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DJO_XuM4eM
mitt Romney saw his dad march with Martin Luther King! CAUGHT IN A LIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_zpa77Ehic

also he supports ENDA gay rights also check out this transcript.. click here… he can not be trusted. He will turn on America just like Arnold turned on the people of san Francisco…

the truth about Romney can be found here also… http://www.trueromney.com/

CHECK OUT THIS LINK ABOUT MIKE’S HIGH TAXATION:
http://www.denverpost.com/perspective/ci_7891299
http://www.vote.com/magazine/columns/dickmorris/column60525717.phtml

CLINTON IS NOT INEVITABLE - JUST OVER RATED WITH A POPULAR LAST NAME!GO HUCK! As for Romney he is a Negative flip flopping flake, I just found out that he has huge stock in all of the companies that are major promoters and supporters of homosexual rights & abortions, he is not going to do anything to these companies or the procedures but try to implement things that would advance them another to advance his portfolio an example of how eloquent speaking politicians are embedded within Wall Street! HE IS ANOTHER WALL STREET CANDIDATE! More like a Political CHRIS ANGEL! I can not wait for romney to get out of the race.He can not win. He is trying to buy his way into the white house and it is simply not working. The only CHANGE he represents is a chng from the current present to another. Everything about him is so scripted. He will make a good VENTRILOQUISE DOLL for the ELITE puppet masters of wall street and the republican elites. He’s TOAST nationally and in Michigan. The only thing that is keeping him in is his own money, cause the people are not donating to him b/c the people don’t trust him. i bet he will go back to hiring illegals to work in his yard. check more out about him at www.massresistance.org he is the biggest flake since kellogs!And as for Romney religion if he knew that it did not include black people in leadership positions, why would he join that religion? He is pandering and changing info what ever he needs to get voted in… he is worse than a flip flopper he is a deceiver…


Best to just wait a day for the results. We've already learned twice this campaign season that the polls are not to be trusted...


What difference does it really make? No matter who wins the primaries the Republican nominee will be a middle aged or elderly white man who wants to go to war with Iran, who will do nothing effective against Al Qaeda, who will saddle our children with huge debts, who will scapegoat hispanics, restrict civil liberties and will put the interests of the wealthy above all other considerations.


Its amazing that Huckabee is doing so well considering that the entire radio talks shows are against him as they are promoting Romney. What no one has capitalized on is that Romney founded Bain Capital and Bain Capital bought Clear Channel which is the largest owner of radio stations in the United States. The Rush Limbaughs of the World are big Romney fans because they are scared stiff to slander Romney because of the influence which Romney and his cronies have in allowing the EIB Network to purchase air time. Further, it was Bain Capital who partnered up with the Carlyle Group (George Bush et al) and purchased Home Depot. Bush, Romney and the Washington Mafia insiders are all in bed together to take out Huckabee's chances as the Republican Canidate.


On a number of occasions during the Revolutionary War, the weather changed suddenly, enabling George Washington's trapped army to escape, and avoid certain defeat by the British. Nostalgic observers were inclined to attribute it to divine intervention.

Maybe the weather tomorrow will help bring the miracle that is being prayed for by the supporters of Mike Huckabee. If so, America's future may not be doomed quite yet.


Since the polls show a recentl climb in popularity for Mike Huckabee, the next poll to register will be the real thing. True conservatives will be relieved to see Mike Huckabee in the White House.


Mike brings great things to the table! I like the FairTax, his education interest in the arts; He's pro-life AND pro-marriage. I wish he was against the death penalty as well, but we take Mike Huckabee very seriously and we are daily Mass variety Roman Catholics. What type of positive direction can the United States go in under Mitt, Rudy, John, or zzzzz Fred?


"Huckabee Surging in SC"


Hey Bill/Jeff,

Are you going to give your McCain concession speech today or are you going to wait until after the old man loses on Sat?

Don't Bogart out on us like you did after Grandpa McCrazy lost Michigan...


Has McCain had his finger to the wind long enough to figure out his position on taxpayer funded contraception to Africa for AIDS prevention? This exchange actually happened:

Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-prevention/


Huck is a Joke. He fries squirrels, wants to change the constitution and is a big dumbo on foreign policy. We will have religious tension and racial conflict if he were to get nominated. The Republican party would be seen as as the Evangelical party.


Huckabee takes S.C. He then moves on and takes FL,GA, and sweeps the south. That is what it takes to win the GOP nomination and Huckabee will win. He doesn't have to win anywhere else. If he goes to the convention with every southern state behind him, they HAVE to nominate him.

http://huckabeeterrapin.blogspot.com/


We are behind Mike Huckabee 100% We like Mike for his conservative views, genuine charm, and strong leadership. He is a man of integrity and value. He understands the Southern views as well as the American views. We like Mike.

Go Mike!


I Have been a Huckabee supporter all long..even though my Pastor brother is trying to "convert" me to Ron Paul. I do think it's impossible to plant a democracy in a Muslim country however. For now I am still in the Huckabee camp but I do find some of Congressman Paul's ideas interesting. Regardless- we need to throw the corparate takeover specialists and the international republican sell out types OUT of office!!!! I have a sinking suspicion the press has been playing up McCain's numbers because they desperately do not want Huckabee to win. The coverage agains the "evangelicals" has been do pigeonholed and prejudiced it's sickening...why don't they talk about Hillary courting the vote ofthe Homosexual activists or the Humanist/Secular Atheists...gimme a break we know what is up with the press and their polls.


Huckabee - Rice or Huckabee - McCain, Romney - Huckabee also, would be great GOP tickets.

Will Bloomberg come in and destroy the GOP?

The demographic winter is coming to the US.

Aging workforce.
geocities(dot)com/demographic_crash


What is this unreleased poll you mention? I am very interested in learning more about it, because as a McCain supporter it is very interesting to me that for the first time since the New Hampshire primary a poll has come out showing Huckabee in the lead.


ok- like i have said before- it's gonna be huck/mac08!
here comes huck!!!!
go mike!


To Posted by: sha | January 18, 2008 1:32 PM

I almost agree with you, if that is the best VP Huckabee can get!


As Mccain puts it, Huckabee is the "useful idiot". Huckabee's comments on the confederate flag are outrageous. I went to High School in SC and the confederate flag is a divisive issue within the state, even among white people. His pathetic pandering is going to backfire. Mccain and his "friend" Huckabee are closet libs and god help us all if they pick up the nomination.


I'm rooting for Huck. When Mike won here in Iowa you should have seen the amount of young people who would turn out to see him, and voted for him on Caucus night (I was there)

If young voters turn out for him in SC like they did in Iowa, Mike will win.


Consider this, Huckabee just signed a "NO AMNESTY PLEDGE" yesterday! He is the only candidate that has done so because he is dead serious about fixing the illegal problem. The guy is a problem solver not a politician by nature. That is why TIME Magazine recognized Huckabee as one of America's Best Governors. Decide your vote by action not words.


Yes, Chris Smith, if Huckabee wins he will unilaterally change the Constitution (never mind the rules on that one), restore segregation, deport every Hispanic (whether legal or not, we can't take the chance) and then he'll call up the National Guard to attack, detain and/or "dispose of" every non-evangelical in the country. It will be like the Inquisition, but in reverse! Would you listen to yourself, please? "Religious tension." "Racial conflict." That's inane. And by the way, have you ever eaten squirrel? It's quite tasty – I suppose much like raccoon, which I haven't eaten but that I've heard is entirely the rage in "enlightened" and "sophisticated" Illinois.


John E, I talk to adults only. I do not and will not ever concede anything to you.


"One wild card that could influence the [South Carolina] outcome on Saturday: Forecasts call for bad weather statewide, and especially in the "upstate" portions of the Piedmont plateau, where social and religious conservatives are concentrated. That could work to McCain's advantage, his supporters say."

With so many superfluous factors influencing opinions, I'm going to add this to my list of people who shouldn't be allowed to vote. If such a decisive state is going to be swung one way or the other literally by the direction of the wind, then I'm fairly sure that we should lose all faith in our own political beliefs.

Exerpt from http://www.PoliticalMaelstrom.blogspot.com


Why should Rush Limbaugh be allowed to pick the Republican nominee? All he says is that Romney is great and McCain and Huckabee are "closet libs" according to him.

Rank and file republicans, rise up and vote against Romney in every primary and symbolically tell that blowhard to shut his piehole.


Rank and file republicans, rise up and vote against Romney in every primary and symbolically tell that blowhard to shut his piehole.

Posted by: Jeff | January 18, 2008 4:03 PM

Factually wrong! Die hard Republicans support Romney. McCain only survives because of Independents and Democrats who are allowed to vote in Republican primaries.


Six people sit down at a table with a whole pie. The one with the knife cuts the pie in half. He then cuts one half into five pieces. He takes the other half and gives a small piece to each of the others at the table.

That is the philosophy of the corrupt Republican establishment and the Limbaughs, Hannitys and O'Reillys of the world, who want to get even richer while everyone else gets poorer.

The solution is to elect a servant leader. His name is Mike Huckabee.


Hahahaha....HUCKABEE!! He's trying to steal pieces of Ron Paul's campaign!! Look at his record, it's a joke.

Then I hear his dumb*ss on the radio this morning talking about how he used to fry squirrel in a popcorn popper in College. WTF?

My question is, did he eat it, or was he just abusing the thing like how his son tortures and kills dogs at summer camp???


Please, please don't mention McCain in the same sentence with Mike Huckabee, because whatever Mac says, I will not give up my gun.
As far as conservatives go, McCain is a liberal in sheeps clothing. Check his voting records.


Why should Rush Limbaugh be allowed to pick the Republican nominee? All he says is that Romney is great and McCain and Huckabee are "closet libs" according to him.

Rank and file republicans, rise up and vote against Romney in every primary and symbolically tell that blowhard to shut his piehole.

Posted by: Jeff | January 18, 2008 4:03 PM

Jeff,

Rush "carries water" for the highest bidder, it's as simple as that. LimpD keeps repeating the "McCain is for amnesty" line as we speak. Trent Lott was among Republicans saying Reich Radio was out of control. Like yourself, they were silent till Limpbaugh attacked their agenda, though.


Huck for President, McCain for Secretary of Defense! The current game being played in Washington is a jacked up fed funds rate of 4.25% causing the "need" for politicians to dole out $600 per person. Wow, thanks for raising my share of the federal debt to give me $600 of my money back.

A blind man can see that the market rates are at 3% and Ben, a pawn of the powerful, is holding off cutting rates as long as he can in support of allowing the congress to do us little guys a favor.

Pass the FairTax and elliminate the games!


Mike Huckabee is the only choice for us! He represents US!

GO MIKE GO!!!


I've been paying attention to Huckabee for several months now, ever since a friend of mine in California told me he was her top candidate. Apparently, she is really supporting governor Huckabee there, and I just saw him for the first today, but was unable to speak with him. I just wanted to show my support and let him know that many of us are promoting his stances so people can be informed and vote. I was excited to see him surge ahead in Iowa, hope he takes SC, FL (where I am emailing friends like crazy), and continues to the White House.


Go Mike Go! Everytime I hear you defend some false accusation against you, I am more convinced you have what it takes to lead the country. People, ignore the moral hypocrisy of Russ Limbaugh, et al, and think for yourselves. The Republican establishment is doing everything it can to shut down Mike, but the people will prevail. Go Mike Go! There are some social conservatives in this country that think for themselves and VOTE....


I’m having trouble believing Huck’s integrity.
In Iowa he said he was above politics and wasn’t going to publish negative Romney ads while he released them to the press. Proving he is either dirty or disorganized and unable to keep his campaign on message.
In South Carolina his ads are implicitly rubbing McCain. In Florida he is sparing with Giuliani. It is illegal for a church to support a candidate; therefore, Huckabee preaches “presidential sermons” instead.
A group called, "Common Sense" (funded by Huckabee supporters) is behind push-poll calls against Romney in Iowa, McCain in New Hampshire, and McCain/Thompson in South Carolina.
If I am expected to vote on his integrity I need a bit of evidence.


Vote the Bible....It's on Hucks vans. What's wrong with the evanalical vote?
They would be the ones that brought us....drum roll please..........Bush.


Would Huck be a born again?
or a born again and again and again....


Huckabee = HUCKABOOM!!!

Mike's going to leave Grandpa McCrazy in the dust in South Carolina.


John E, why would you like that? You attack Huckabee for his religious views on every other topic on this forum. Now you love Huckabee for some reason? Just because you get a chance to call McCain childish names?

There's a lot more dust in Nevada and Obama will be eating Hillary's there, but I don't encourage a democrat to vote for either of those candidates. Do you REALLY want Huckabee?


"HUCKABEE SPEAKS"

I WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE DAWN OF AMERICAN SOCIETY WHEREIN YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR WIFE AND HER ABILITY TO SPEAK OR VOTE.

I WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE DAWN OF AMERICAN SOCIETY WHEREIN YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR WIFE THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.

I HEAR THE VOICES, AND THE VOICES COMMAND YOU TO VOTE FOR ME SO I CAN LAY DOWN MY STAFF AND SPANK YO WIFE.

WITH HER BAD SELF.

I HEAR THE VOICES I REALLY DO.


I hope the voters in South Carolina exercise some degree of intelligence and vote for the one candidate who knows how to solve problems: Mitt Romney. Huckabee puts on the face of a Christian, but he is the most devious and nasty behind the scenes. He asks the innocent question claiming not to know much about Mormons, but he gave the keynote speech in 1998 at the Southern Baptist Convention in Salt Lake City. The whole focus of the conference was on the Mormons and how to stop them. He can only speak in platitudes and has no substance or knowledge about either economics or foreign policy. His about-face on immigration is interesting. Why doesn't anyone call him on this major flip-flop? And what about McCain? His legislative "accomplishments" are the biggest reason not to vote for him. McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman. He is no conservative. Immigration is my biggest issue, and I don't trust his apparent conversion. Why isn't he called on his changes of position either?


todd "In Iowa he said he was above politics and wasn’t going to publish negative Romney ads while he released them to the press. Proving he is either dirty or disorganized and unable to keep his campaign on message."
actually he was talking about his IOWA campaign. he left the door open to go "negative" as you call it in the other states.
smart move.
here comes huck!!!
remember to pray if you are a praying person for huck!
and if your not, donate!!
:)


remember to pray if you are a praying person for huck!
and if your not, donate!!
:)

Posted by: Anonymous | January 18, 2008 6:14 PM

Lets just pray!


I see everyone cheering for Huckabee.... you do realize there are reasons behind his knick name of Tax Hike Mike. You really want to fix the unemployment factor in SC you need Dr Paul Not Huckabee.


Ya, I will take Romney anyday over the other candidates. I am not spoiled for choices, that's for sure. Romney is the best candidate for the economy, immigration, and to keep us competitive internationally. The race will be between Romney and Hillary and Romney will win. Final result.


My vote is going on Mike Huckabee . We need an honest and moral man running this country for a change. Mike was named by Time Magazine as of the top 5 Governors in America. That was before he decided to run for President. A great decoration!

Mike is authentic and inspiring, making him the best leader I have ever known. He is the type of leader that naturally motivates his men to want to work their hardest , without even telling them to. People under Mike's comand work their hardest because they love and respect this commander.

Mike Huckabee is the first candidate that I have ever had 100% trust and faith in. Please, go out and vote for him.

Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC


Just a word from a yankee. As a lifelong Bostonian, with a liberal bent, it's interesting to read all of these postings. I grew up sort with a certain disdain for the republican party which I believe is a learned disdain via (northern) media and public education. In college I took an honors class taught by a southern intellectual. Before this class, I had never read the constitution. I walked away from the class with an entirely different perception of the south, and a deeper appreciation for the documents upon which this country was founded. The constitution (the bill of rights) and the declaration of independence, are all treasures, not just to this nation, but to all of humanity. No other soveriegn nation has subscribed to the best of our nation's decries that all of its citizens are born with the certain and inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. My public education system seemed to deprive me of any real critical understanding of the documents which give me the very right to think critically. Thus, in these extreme times, I have thought critically about which candidate is necessary to protect our national sovereignty, and the sovereignty of the documents that give us the very freedom of the conversations we are all having right now. I never in a million years thought I would vote for a republican, but Ron Paul has my vote. In the words of charleton Heston, only "from my cold, dead hands" will this neolib/neocon republicrat beurocracy take the constitution of the United States from me. Ron Paul could unite us all if we stop listening to the media which sells us our candidates and our soveignety.


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