NPR: Bowling for Wisconsin

Bowling for Wisconsin

Former President George HW Bush is throwing his support to John McCain today. But McCain's Republican rival Mike Huckabee isn't dropping out of the race. The former Arkansas Governor is busy campaigning in Wisconsin for tomorrow's primary.

"What we need to do is make sure the people of Wisconsin recognize that they are going out and voting their own conscience," Huckabee said last night. "Not doing what somebody in the establishment is telling them. Because this vote is about the future of the Republican party. What kind of party we're going to have in the future."

Huckabee spoke at a Milwaukee bowling alley, where he and his wife Janet bowled a friendly game with the news media.

"People who run for office ought to be able to connect with ordinary folks," Huckabee said, after lacing up his size 12, blue and red rented shoes.

The Huckabees, who confessed to being somewhat out of practice, had a combined score of 86. The populist former minister with a conservative social message bowls like he campaigns. On his last frame, he knocked down several pins on the right and a couple on the left, but most of the pins in the center were still standing.

After the game, the Huckabees posed for pictures with supporters. Ryan Paquette stood in line for an autograph. "He's the only candidate who's really been aligned with my values," said the young aerospace technician, who was wearing a "Promise Keepers" T-shirt. "It's really important to me that we get this nation back on a godly track. And he's the man to do it."

Not everyone was bowled over by the candidate's visit. Roofer Douglas Bogardus just dropped in for a game and was surprised to find a swarm of TV cameras in the lanes.
"I'm more of a John McCain fan myself," Bogardus said.

-- Scott Horsley

9:53 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

If Dubya hasn't disproved the notion that the nation needs a "regular guy" administration, nuthin' will.

Heck, that was practically a poem -

Paul - originalfaith.com

Sent by Paul Maurice Martin | 11:52 AM ET | 02-18-2008

Okay, this topic carries the subliminal psychological message of 'Bowling for Columbine.' We're expecting Marilyn Manson to show up to endorse Huckabee with the kiss of death, and kick off some kind of horrific massacre.

Look, porn stars are endorsing Hillary and Moveon.org is endorsing Barack. All the Democratic candidates need to further along their kiss of death endorsements is one from the Mormon Church. Look what it did for Romney.

Huckabee can do a lot better than bowling. He was on Jon Stewart's show the other night. He was darn good. But, I guess, when running for Vice President, you can't be asking the President to visit the bowling alleys. Can you?

Which brings us to the topic of running for Vice President. Which is also in Barack Obama's potential corner of strategy.

You got to ask yourself who benefits more from Hillary stringing out her personal feud with Barack: her or John McCain.

The longer Hillary feuds with Barack, the longer it takes for Hillary to have to face McCain in the debate rounds. Meanwhile, the longer the Hillary and Barack feud goes on, the longer John McCain has to get Rush Limbaugh sober.

Let's say that Barack Obama is turning out to be both candidate's favorite staying strategy, and let's all go bowling for someone, if not for Michael Moore.

Speaking of which, just for the sake of argument, if Barack Obama were president, how frustrated would the left become? Nobody would be able to protest any political outcome without being branded a racist.

Yes, I'm a racist when I disgree with Barakc. And I'm a misogynist when I disagre with Hillary. And I haven't gone bowling in years. But I can still bowl better than an 86.

To think, while we twiddle our thumbs waiting for the real political debates to begin between McCain and Hillary, we can work on improving our game to break a hundred.

And that is what politics is all about. Smelly shoes and a shiny, slippery surface.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 8:11 AM ET | 02-19-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.