RECOMMEND THE REF           

December 26, 2007

8 Days Until the Iowa Caucuses

DISCLAIMER: The Ref does not express agreement with a post by posting it.  Interest and news value represent the standards for inclusion. 

CONSERVATIVE EDITORIALS

LIBERAL EDITORIALS

CONSERVATIVE BLOGS

LIBERAL BLOGS

 

 

Photo Attributions

Click Here for Photo Attributions

 

 

 


 powered by FreeFind
Giuliani Leads by 2.8%
Giuliani 22.4
Huckabee
 19.6
Romney 15.1
McCain 13.8
Thompson 11.7
Paul 4.8
See All Polls
Clinton Leads by 17.0%
Clinton 43.4
Obama 26.4
Edwards 13.0
See All Polls
STATE PRIMARY LEADERS
(EARLY STATES)
Iowa
Huckabee +7.6%
Clinton +2.0%
New Hampshire
Romney +8.0%
Clinton +5.0%
South Carolina
Huckabee +7.3%
Clinton +1.5%
Michigan
Romney +0.5%
Clinton +31.0% No Delegates
Florida
Giuliani +2.0%
Clinton +23.7%
Nevada
Romney +3.5%
Clinton +17.5%
Clinton 48.5
Giuliani 45.5
Clinton 47.0
Thompson 42.0
Clinton 45.0
McCain 48.5
Clinton 49.8
Romney 44.3
Clinton 51.3
Huckabee 42.0
See All Head-to-Head Polls

Why the Ref's Poll Averages Are Superior

 

The Ref's Calls

Why Huckabee Cannot Last                                 

So now the Huck has bowed to the king of the conservative movement and said please, call me and let me explain. When Huckabee openly asked Limbaugh to call him he accomplished two things, he will probably get the call and he acknowledged that Rush has been hurting him politically.

What has Rush said? He said that Huckabee is too liberal on most issues other than social issues. I am not sure how talking with Rush can ease that condemnation among conservatives. 

Huckabee's problem is the opposite of Obama's, his record. Count on the Romney attacks to start scoring big soon because no novelty can survive well supported claims of soft on criminals, illegal immigration and tax raiser charges in the Republican Party.

Romney has done what Huckabee has not, exorcized his demons, or at least attempted to on the issue of abortion. Huckabee still pretends to have never backed liberal policies. A voter will sooner back someone who has "strayed" and admitted their error than someone who simply refuses to admit any error at all.  The question, therefore, becomes whether enough Republican primary voters believe Huckabee has made mistakes.   

Now that Limbaugh has identified Huckabee as a liberal on too many issues the answer to that question is probably yes.  The loudest voice on radio is an enormous voice in the Republican primaries. With Rush out until January 2nd, Huckabee is stuck with Rush's last assessment, and that will probably be enough to keep Huckabee from winning more than one state, if he even pulls off a win in Iowa.

Limbaugh has created an impression that simply will not subside by January 3rd. He will probably reiterate his dislike of Huckabee when he returns. It's hard to see how a Republican wins a narrow vote with Rush against him.  If he manages to win Iowa I doubt he will win South Carolina or any other state, unless he can eliminate the perception that he has liberal tendencies.

 

Thanks to FreeFind for providing the search technology for this website.  

 

The Ref's Daily Political Brief

Iraqi Churches Full for Christmas Unlike Previous Years - Shiites Attend Mass in Show of Good Will

Hillary's Experience Questioned . . . BY THE NEW YORK TIMES

Edwards Abandons Old Lawyer Habits . . . Consistently Late 

Obama Relying on Old Democratic Hope that Usually Does Not Pay Off . . . Students

Remember that Really Bad Hillary Photo? HERE IT IS