
Photo credit: Dave Davidson â Prezography.com
Recent articles responding to Governor Mike Huckabeeâs policy videos, show that he has a potential reach well beyond the Christian Right. In the most recent article, Washington Post columnist, Chris Cilliza, summarized his latest video as a mix of âmoral clarityâ, populist rhetoric, a history of winning elections against the Clinton machine in Arkansas, and successful governing in a state full of Democrats.
Huckabee paints himself a Southern Populist with what is Cillizaâs take-away line: âAny drunken redneck can walk into a bar and start a fight. A leader only starts a fight heâs prepared to finish.â He asks, if any other candidate could use such an analogy and not seem phony. Another video uses the story of Linda Gubitos to bolster Huckabeeâs theme of seeking a maximum wage, instead of focusing on a minimum wage.
These videos makes no mention of abortion or âgay marriageâ, but nobody thinks for a moment, that he is trying to distance himself from these moral issues, as Mitt Romney did in 2012. When he comes to the end of the most recent clip and says âIâll lead with clarity, in a dangerous worldâ you know he isnât just talking about defeating radical Jihadist terrorism. When he says âThereâs a difference between right and wrong. Thereâs a difference between good and evilâ, read between the lines. âYou trust that Iâll do what I say on those issues, you can trust me to protect our country.â
He points out that Huckabee âhas never worked a day in Washingtonâ and, as others have noted, he may have a strong turnout among senior citizens, the only candidate who promises to protect Social Security, without incurring means testing or reduction of payments. He has,in my opinion, the clearest path to win over Ronald Reagan Democrats. Some on the right, disdain âpopulismâ, even though Ronaldus Maximus made it an art form.
Other recent articles point out Mike Huckabeeâs outreach to Hispanics, and an older article shows why the Republican Governor from Arkansas got 48% of the black voters his last gubernatorial election.
Those who rule out Mike Huckabee, because he only has a small constituency have it wrong. There could be a Boom Huck-A-Boom Boom after he announces his decision to run, May 5th, in Hope, Arkansas.