NPR: Did Huckabee's Surge Catch His Team By Surprise?

Did Huckabee's Surge Catch His Team By Surprise?

They were putting holiday lights up Tuesday at Mike Huckabee's campaign headquarters in downtown Des Moines. The Republican presidential candidate is hoping to celebrate more than Christmas in the Hawkeye State.

Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, has surprised many people by pulling into a statistical dead heat with Mitt Romney in polling ahead of the Republican caucuses in Iowa on January 3.

But did Huckabee's surge surprise even his own Iowa campaign manager? Eric Woolson took precious days off last week to go snake hunting with his son in Costa Rica. The Washington Post saw this as evidence Woolson never anticipated Huckabee's success — or else he would have stayed put at the office.

When an NPR reporter visited Tuesday, Woolson was back at work showing off photos of his snake expedition. He explained that he planned the vacation with his son long before the Iowa caucuses were moved up to January 3. He said he always thought his boss would start moving up in the polls — though not by this much so fast. Now, Woolson said, his job is to make sure the campaign organization is strong enough to match the excitement the boss is drawing.

"Mike Huckabee has this extraordinary ability to connect with people on a one-on-one basis. He listens to what people are saying," Woolson said. "When he's been here in the state and he meets with Iowans, they want to support him. He's the best closer that we have."

The "closer" is vowing to all but live in Iowa in December. Huckabee, however, hasn't been in Iowa this week. And in recent days, he's been forced to make stops elsewhere — like in Ohio and Texas — in search of donors. He must find money wherever he can if he's in the race for the long haul. Even if can finish strong in Iowa, he may face trouble in New Hampshire. The candidate plans to spend much of this weekend stumping in the Granite State.

Meanwhile, the former governor was getting some good news out of Florida, where a new Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion poll shows him pulling into second, ahead of every other GOP candidate except for national front-runner Rudy Giuliani.

- David Greene

8:07 AM ET | 11-28-2007 | permalink

Comments

Hey you guys must have made a mistake. I thought I heard someone mentioning where he stands on an issue. I sneezed though, so I might have missed it. Please make sure none of that kind of thing makes it into your election coverage again. I want my politics covered like a horse race - please stop mentioning issues or anything else relevant

Sent by Sloover | 10:38 AM ET | 11-28-2007

Mike Huckabee will be back in the "third tier" when the "issue diverse" states start their primaries.
Huckabee's "single issue, single facet" style plays well with "single issue, single facet", ultra-conservative voters (Yes, that includes Florida!).

But where does he stand on "complex, intellectual issues" in "complex, diverse, (and/or) intellectual" states?

Iowa is only the START, not the race!
Anyone who thinks otherwise, should re-read "The Tortise and the Hare".

Sent by Harold | 1:24 PM ET | 11-28-2007

I agree that the media needs to question Mike on the issues. This is more of a 'media issue' than a 'Mike Huckabee issue'.

I think Mike Huckabee brings one supreme asset to the table that makes him qualified to deal with the complex issues of our time - wisdom.

Mike Huckabee did a tremendous job in leading Arkansas from a backward economy under prior (Clinton) leadership and lead many significant and measureable improvements in infrastructure, human services, and education. He did so while maintaining a balanced budget - and his tax increases were smaller proportionally than those in States and Municipalities ran by many of his competitors. The Truth is - from 2001 - 2003 all state governments faced some pretty extreme financial concerns. Arkansas was uniquely impacted due to the fact that less than 10% of its' operating budget was for discretionary purposes. In order to be effective in his role as Governor - he had to lobby support from across the isle. That is the kind of leadership our country needs.

Finally, in helping to advance Verticle Politics in the US - you can be assured that Huckabee will not be a 'negative campaigner' in the general election. He will pull over a ton of Democrats to his side and help advance needed solutions for our nation.

What are the complex issues to which you refer to which Mike does not have a position defined? I would be happy to speak to them. Many of Mike's platform issues are well established on his website and he has also authored many books.

Just the way I see it.

Sent by kevin | 4:19 AM ET | 11-29-2007

I think the media has, in fact, covered Huckabee's positions. That's why we kept hearing the mantra, "Huckabee should be doing better, because he's such a darling to the Christian right." I'm not Zogby, but I'm guessing that this handicapping may have prompted a lot of Republicans to give him a second look. Still, I don't think he'll do so well in other major states, where Republicans are turning away from blood-n-guts social and international warfare in favor of more traditional conservatism.

Sent by Erik in California | 11:51 PM ET | 12-02-2007

Kevin, after decades of Republican "leadership," you fault Clinton for the state's "backward economy." You wouldn't be a Republican hack, would you? I ask that because no intelligent person would have ever found Arkansas or most of the South to be enlightened for most of the 20th century. Yet, you find a way to blame Clinton for the state's issues. Amazing.

Sent by Brian Questel | 9:08 AM ET | 12-03-2007

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