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(Not Quite) President Huckabee

Kristol raises, warms up to the prospect at his new venue. NYT Op-Ed: 

For me, therefore, the most interesting moment in Saturday night’s Republican debate at St. Anselm College was when the candidates were asked what arguments they would make if they found themselves running against Obama in the general election.

The best answer came, not surprisingly, from the best Republican campaigner so far — Mike Huckabee. He began by calmly mentioning his and Obama’s contrasting views on issues from guns to life to same-sex marriage. This served to remind Republicans that these contrasts have been central to G.O.P. success over the last quarter-century, and to suggest that Huckabee could credibly and comfortably make the socially conservative case in an electorally advantageous way.

Huckabee went on to pay tribute to Obama for his ability “to touch at the core of something Americans want” in seeming to move beyond partisanship. And, he added, Senator Obama is “a likable person who has excited people about wanting to vote who have not voted in the past.” Huckabee was of course aware that in praising Obama he was recommending himself.

I was watching the debate at the home of a savvy, moderately conservative New Hampshire Republican. It was at this moment that he turned to me and said: “You know, I’ve been a huge skeptic about Huckabee. I’m still not voting for him Tuesday. But I’ve got to say — I like him. And I wonder — could he be our strongest nominee?”

He could be.

Kristol paints it all in a rosy light and suggests there’s an electability factor that overcomes a lot of things he mentions in passing or not at all, primarily the foreign policy myopia, taxes, soft on born-again crime, pro-illegration stance, weird family issues, etc.  But he’s likeable. It may well be that a lot of people on the right who aren’t crazy about him will have to warm up to him before this is over, but it’s early in the primary season.  

RCP’s latest NH GOP poll roundup likes McCain a lot, so-so on Romney, indifferent to Huckabee. Nationally, polls lagging by a week, Guiliani noses out neck-and-neck McCain, Hucks.

Here’s Stuart Rothenberg at RCP, calls the same pairoff an Obama blowout:

Obama’s win makes him the instant Democratic frontrunner, though one victory is not a strong basis for beginning work on a Democratic National Convention acceptance speech.

Huckabee’s victory makes him one of his party’s credible contenders for the GOP nomination, but nothing more. South Carolina may be fertile territory for Huckabee later this month, but there are far too many question marks about his candidacy and appeal to see him as anything more than that.

The former Arkansas governor may well have hit his high water mark in the nation’s first presidential contest. We will see.

But one thing does seem pretty clear: If it’s Obama versus Huckabee in November, Republicans might want to prepare a bomb shelter and store plenty of food, water and reading material. That general election would more likely than not be a massive blowout for Democrats.

Speaking of Obie, the latest poll roundup likes him a whole lot. 

There’s another day to go in New Hampshire. Super Tuesday’s a way off.

Surber suggests Huck ranks among the underestimated.

I knew there was a reason I think Joyner’s a genius.

Topics: pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 6:36 am on Monday, January 7, 2008

6 Responses to “(Not Quite) President Huckabee”

1. Outside The Beltway | OTB Says:
   January 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am

   GOP Establishment Warming to Huckabee?

   Neoconservative stalwart Bill Kristol uses his new NYT forum to make the case that, not only could Republicans live with Mike Huckabee as their nominee, he “could he be our strongest nominee.”
   After the last two elections, featuring the wel…

2. Don Surber » Blog Archive » Kristol on the Huck Says:
   January 7th, 2008 at 10:03 am

   […] whole column is here. Jules Crittenden reacts. More reaction at Memeorandum. Hat tip: Real Clear […]

3. Terrye Says:
   January 7th, 2008 at 7:35 pm

   I think a lot of conservatives are underestimating Huckabee because people like Rush and the NRO don’t like him. In fact that might actually be part of his appeal to some Republicans who feel that they have been ignored by the big shots.

4. Terrye Says:
   January 7th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

   And btw ,even VDH is figuring out that a path to legalization might be the only realistic option. I think Romney might be overplaying his hand here by channeling Tancredo. It is shame really, because Romney is smarter than that. Or should be.

5. JM Hanes Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 2:21 am

   Bless his contrarian little heart!

   Flippin’ off the Netroots 101: Launch your tenure at the august Times by servin’ up a [gasp] Huckabee win. I may only love Huckabee for a New York minute, but that’s long enough to say Kristol rocks! Has he ever quoted Michelle Malkin before? You just know what kind of good time he was havin’ when he wrote that name down. Leftie’s must be keelin’ over from coast to coast.

6. saltydog Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 4:38 am

   If Huckabee wins the nomination, I won’t vote. There are some things I won’t do, and helping him in any fashion is one of them.

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