There's a very interesting poll from Iowa putting Mike Huckabee in the lead for the first time for the Republican nomination to be President - read it here
He's a former Governor of Arkansas (sound familiar?), born in Hope (sound even more familiar?) and an ordained Baptist minister. Bill Clinton wasn't a man of the cloth but he certainly had the qualities of a Southern preacher. Both men have also struggled publicly to lose weight! Bill Clinton's third place in Iowa in 1992 catapulted him into the Presidential race and he never looked back.
Huckabee is a social conservative and will probably appeal to the Republican base more than the national front runner Rudy Giuliani. He supports the death penalty, is pro-life and opposes gay marriage. He's been married for over thirty years - Mr Giuliani is on his third wife. He's just overhauled the Mormon Mitt Romney - another social conservative - in the Iowa race.
But Huckabee has a softer, more ecumenical side. He encouraged baptist churches in Arkansas to accept black congregations. He proclamied 1997 a year of racial reconciliation in his state and has supported illegal immigrants in Arkansas getting state benefits - as long as they pay taxes.
Of course there's a long way to go, but the races for both parties are getting tighter as the Jan 3rd caucus date gets nearer. The history of US Presidential races suggests its much easier to win as an outsider (ie a former Governor, Mayor or General) than it is if you have a Washington record (ie a Vice-President, Senator or Congressman). Huckabee is one to watch.
With a name like Huckabee he had better lie low, can you imagine " President Huckabee" oh dear, not much of a chance for him I believe!
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 30 Nov 2007 14:54:06
I believe that Giuliani will fare badly because of his tangled private life, which is a pity because i think he has many of the qualities necessary to make a good US President.
Posted by: The Morning Post 29 Nov 2007 12:36:43
By virtue of the margin of error surounding such polls, notwithstanding the fact that the US elctions provide much fascination, it will not come as a surprise that many will just want to "Boogy 2Nite" whilst others will just want to get their hands on the "Booty Luv".
Posted by: Khalid 29 Nov 2007 12:02:05