Wednesday, November 14, 2007

MIKE HUCKABEE, MITT ROMNEY

Romney's Going To Go After Huckabee in Iowa

I don't know if many Republican primary voters are naturally inclined toward compromise, but I wonder if any first tier contenders will begin pitching themselves as “the compromise candidate.” It’s not the most thrilling of labels, but it may be useful in a field that has two candidates who have the odd distinction of being exceptionally strong general election candidates, while simultaneously being loathed by one segment of the GOP base.

I’m referring to Giuliani and Huckabee, of course. They’re fine men. Not only are they better than the Democratic alternative, both have accomplished great careers in executive leadership and demonstrate a gift for public persuasion for certain conservative policies. Unfortunately, both have a vocal segment of the GOP rank-and-file lining up to stop them, having been decreed unacceptable to those segments.

Can any of the other four guys pitch themselves as almost as strong on social issues as Huckabee, but without the tax increases, immigration squishiness, etc? Can any of the other four guys come close to Giuliani’s strengths, without a career spent on the left side of the social issue divide?

I thought of this as I mulled over the latest update from Middle Cheese, now affiliated with Team Romney.

Middle Cheese: “From what I hear, Team Romney is taking Governor Huckabee’s surge very seriously.  Huckabee’s support for tax increases will become known far and wide throughout Iowa over the next sixty days.   While concern about social conservative issues (and I include immigration in this basket) tend to be more top of mind for Iowa Republicans than fiscal conservative issues (which are more important to voters of New Hampshire), it will be interesting to see if the Huck’s Iowa surge continues after Iowans are ‘fully educated’ about his enthusiastic support for Clinton-like tax increases in Arkansas.”

11/14 04:36 PMShare