Just talked to my mom and dad, who said a friend of theirs was watching TV news coverage of a Huckabee rally the other day, and espied a sign in the crowd: "Crunchy Cons For Huck." Heh heh heh. Like Elvis, we are ever'whar.
So, what's Huck's endgame? Paul Burka, writing before Romney dropped out, says:
To state the obvious, Huckabee is running for president. Not this year, but in 2012. He's trying to move from being a gadfly and a regional candidate, as he was at the start of the current race, to a candidate with a national following. He and Romney are engaged in a primary to become the conservative standardbeared four years from now. They have to assume that McCain will lose the election and they will be the frontrunners in 2012. If Huckabee can win a big state outside his southern base -- say, Ohio -- he can claim to be more than a regional candidate. I don't think that either Huckabee or Romney has what it takes to be president, but you can't blame them for trying.
Makes sense to me. A lot can happen between now and March 4, but barring some sort of scandal, Huckabee will probably win Texas that day -- and it would be great if he'd win Ohio too, which, given that state's economic woes, he might just do. My crafty Huckabee-Jindal 2012 plan is proceeding nicely.
Ross thinks Huck oughta call it quits, and "go out on a high note." But why? What good does a high note do him? If he concludes his campaign with a win in Texas, that's a pretty high note from which to launch his 2012 White House run (assuming a McCain loss). Anyway, it's pretty clear now that whatever way he exits this race, Huckabee is a power in the GOP, and he's not going to go away. Not bad. Not bad at all.
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Looks like Huck is moving on.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0208/Huck_to_the_Caymans.html
Compare this to former President Bush's shopping trip for golf clubs just a few days before his election loss to Bill Clinton. The handwriting is on the wall, and Huck is getting ready to head back to his daytime job.
I can't tell if Huckabee is running for 2012 or for the V-P slot. Anyone know?
He says he's not, but a candidate in his position usually says no, and some in the press are convinced that's his real goal.
Rod, what are you on? Huck has no chance in Texas or Ohio. IVR poll has McCain up by 10 pts on Huck in Texas, 43-33, and latest SurveyUSA poll in Ohio has McCain up by 14 pts, 50-36. No chance, it's over.
Well, now we know. From the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-trailtop15feb15,1,3902476.story?ctrack=4&cset=true
"In a biting column Wednesday, David Sanders of the Arkansas News Bureau argued that for Huckabee, money-making and politicking go hand in hand. From Day One, Sanders wrote, "the Huckabee campaign hasn't just been about running for president. It has also been a means by which to advance his career and relevance. Hefty speaking fees, handsome book deals and perhaps his own television show all lie ahead.
"So why should he drop out when momentum is now shifting his way, even though math proves he can't win? Well, that's easy. There is still so much at stake."
All in all, Sanders' assessment was harsh. More plausible is the idea that Huckabee is playing out a 2008 endgame with an eye on his future in the party. It won't be surprising if he stays in the race through Texas' March 4 primary. Establishing a base of support there, spotlighting his political skills for GOP leaders there and improving his standing among the rank-and-file would serve him well in a 2012 presidential bid."
Sounds like he'll have to be convinced to sign on with McCain. Seems to me that he is the candidate most likely to help McCain in the V-P slot, but it's one of those marriages of political convenience so lacking in romance that the two may never make it to the altar.
Apparently now that Huckabee has no chance of winning the GOP nomination, Rod's readers have dropped him like a stone. That's kind of interesting, but even more interesting to me is the question of what will be the upshot of his campaign this year. Well -- here's another interesting development. According to Robert Novak, McCain "insiders" are putting out the word that there is no way he will be on the GOP ticket this fall.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/hillarys_mcgovern_problem.html
For Democrats, this is excellent news. He's likely the only Republican candidate who could win an extra state or two for McCain.
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