NPR: Mike Huckabee: The Lazarus of the Blogosphere?

Mike Huckabee: The Lazarus of the Blogosphere?

Pretty much counted out from the outset, Mike Huckabee surprised the pundits last fall, took the Iowa caucuses, and came out roaring, only to fade away - until now, that is, when the former governor won several states such as Georgia, West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee and his home state of Arkansas (thanks, NPR projections desk!) and got if not a total new life at least a second wind ... particularly if he doesn't mind playing second banana ...

Over at Betsy's Page, conservative blogger Betsy Newmark says the results took her by surprise:

"Gee, I'd almost forgotten about Huckabee and here he is showing his southern appeal. I saw somewhere that people were speculating that Huckabee's showing tonight would make him an appealing running mate for John McCain. I just don't see that. McCain's problem is with the conservative base and other than the social conservatives, Huckabee has his own problem with conservatives. And in a general election, I would think that picking Huckabee would negate a lot of McCain's appeal to independents."

Similarly, Andrew Sullivan, the Tory turned libertarian turned Obamaniac turned wacky headline punster ...

"McHuckabee?

"This strikes me as the big news tonight. Mike Huckabee's remarkable strength in the South is proof to me of the resilience of Christianist populism in the current GOP coalition. I can't see how either Romney or Huckabee can ultimately topple McCain, but I can see that Huckabee is proving a serious contender for the veep slot. The big imponderable is obviously California. If Romney beats McCain there, he doesn't seriously challenge him but he sure bloodies him - perhaps critically. This has been only an average night for the Republican front-runner. At this point, one begins to wonder if the GOP isn't in serious disarray for a while."

Michael Goldfarb, editor of WorldwideStandard.com, gets in on the act, but argues that John McCain was the big winner today -- if only because Mitt Romney fared relatively poorly.

"Tonight's results do not benefit Romney--no matter how his enthusiastic supporters in the blogosphere might try to spin it. There's really no way for Romney to challenge McCain down the stretch unless he pulls out a surprisingly strong win in California. And even if Romney does win big in California, he still faces an uphill fight because it's not a winner take all state. Huckabee's right, it's a two-man race and Romney isn't in it. But Romney's right, too--Huck isn't electable, and he will not take the nomination. So it's a muddled result for the Republicans, but McCain's going to win."

McCain a dead lock? On the right side of the political spectrum, bloggers seem to be figuring out how inevitable inevitable really is.

--- David Folkenflik

12:12 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I think Huchabee has areal chances at the race! People aren't giving him the credit he desevers. He's been pushed into the back sence the beging of the race. So the media must not like his message and aren't tell the american people all they need to known to elect him!

Sent by Bob strider | 7:42 AM ET | 02-06-2008

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
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	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.