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December 05, 2007
Huckabee's Welcome To The Big Time
Mike Huckabee has been on the rise. Over the last few weeks, the former Arkansas governor and current candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination has seen his star rise, as he has climbed the polls - both nationally and in early primary states, particularly Iowa. Now he is finding out what it's like to run with the big boys.
There's an old adage in politics that you don't bother attacking an opponent who poses no threat, and until recently Huckabee's candidacy merited little to no attention from his GOP rivals. Broke and trailing badly in the polls, Huckabee's populist, social conservative message simply wasn't moving the needle for him.
But things have changed in the last few weeks, especially in Iowa. His message is a natural fit for Republican primary voters in the Hawkeye state, and he has undoubtedly filled a void the lackluster field of frontrunners has left up for grabs. Huckabee's cultivated image of a true religious conservative with compassion for the struggles of ordinary people started to resonate, even beyond Iowa, and he has emerged as a legitimate threat.
Huckabee's surge, not surprisingly, has drawn the attention of his competition, as evidenced by questions raised in the press about possible ethical problems as governor and his lack of knowledge of subsatantive issues, particularly in the area of foreign policy. Today, however, he is facing a far more serious political problem -- his involvement as governor in the pardoning of a serial rapist in Arkansas who went on to rape again and murder after his release from prison.
At the Huffington Post, Murray Waas has penned a stunning piece on Huckabee's role in the 1999 release of rapist Wayne Dumond, as well as his apparent obfuscation of that role during his presidential campaign. The story cuts at the heart of Huckabee's carefully cultivated boy scout image and presents him with the first major challenge of his presidential campaign.
In one sense, Huckabee should consider the attack flattering and a sign of respect. After all, no one would bother if he weren't a threat, right? On the other hand, the nature of the attention the story is likely to draw will hardly flatter his presidential prospects. In fact, it could be downright deadly.
How Huckabee responds to this first real challenge will tell the tale about whether he is a real contender for the Republican nomination, or just another pretender. Stay tuned.
Posted by houtopia at December 5, 2007 10:30 PM