• Mike Huckabee,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Sarah Palin

    Poll Watch: Mit Romney Crashing and Burning in Florida and North Carolina

    December 27, 2010 /

    Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney

    I think so.

    When PPP first polled Florida Republicans in March about who they wanted as their 2012 nominee 52% of them picked Mitt Romney when given the choices of him, Mike Huckabee (who got 21%), and Sarah Palin (who received 18%).

    When PPP next asked Florida Republicans about 2012 in July Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul’s names were added into the mix and although Romney maintained the lead it wasn’t nearly as strong. He was at 31%, followed by Palin and Gingrich at 23%, Huckabee at 15%, and Paul at 6%.

    When PPP asked about it in late October even more names were in the pool and Romney’s support declined even further. He was down to 28% with Palin at 22%, Huckabee and Gingrich at 15%, and a variety of other Republicans combining for 8%.

    Now Romney’s lead in Florida is completely gone. The poll we did last week found him at only 21%, behind Huckabee’s 23%, with Gingrich at 18%, Palin at 13%, and others combining for a total of 15%.

    Why? Mitt Romney is no longer the conservative alternative to Sarah Palin. With Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich in the race, Mitt comes off as the least conservative of the three.

    In North Carolina, Romney does not come off very well either.

    In North Carolina we see a good old log jam with Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin tied at 21%, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney tied at 18%, and the rest of the Republicans combining for 12%. This is another state where Romney’s conservative problem rears its head. He has a strong advantage with moderates as 30% of them say he’s their top choice with none of the other Republicans rising above 15%. But he posts yet another fourth place finish with conservatives at only 14%, with Palin at 24%, Gingrich at 22%, and Huckabee at only 19%.

    Mitt Romney certainly will run for President in 2012. But, besides his popularity in New Hampshire he will fade when the South Carolina and Florida primary elections are held.

    It could very well be Mike Huckabee’s and/or Newt Gingrich’s year unless Mitch Daniels or John Thune can catch fire.

  • Barack Obama,  Mike Huckabee,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Polling,  Sarah Palin

    Poll Watch President 2012: Huckabee Does Best for GOP But Nobody Catching Fire

    May 21, 2009 /

    The latest PPP Presidential 2012 poll is out and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is narrowly leading the GOP field against Barack Obama.

    Looking toward 2012, none of the most mentioned potential Republican contenders are finding a lot of momentum. In hypothetical contests Obama leads

    • Mike Huckabee 52-39
    • Newt Gingrich 53-36
    • Mitt Romney 53-35
    • Sarah Palin 56-37

    PPP conducted a national survey of 1,000 voters from May 14th to 18th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.1%.

    In addition to coming closest to Obama in the horse race, Huckabee also has the best favorability rating among the quartet of potential GOP hopefuls. 44% have a positive opinion of him, followed by 42% for Sarah Palin, 40% for Mitt Romney, and 30% for Newt Gingrich.

    It is way early, but don’t think that the GOP candidates are not realizing what an uphill climb it will be to unseat an incumbent and so far popular President.

    Technorati Tags: , , , ,

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitt Romney,  Sarah Palin

    Poll Watch: Sarah Palin Leads 2012 GOP Presidential Field – Mike Huckabee Second

    February 27, 2009 /
    Sarah Palin Samaritan Purse

    Governor Sarah Palin during her visit with the Samaritans Purse relief effort in rural Alaskan villages (Feb. 20, 2009).

    The latest CNN poll is out and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is leading but within the margin of error with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

    The Poll (The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey was conducted February 18-19, with 429 Republicans questioned by telephone, sampling error = 4.5%):

    • Sarah Palin – 29%
    • Mike Huckabee – 26%
    • Mitt Romney – 21%
    • Bobby Jindal – 9%
    • Someone Else – 10%

    Among Republican women, however, Sarah Palin is the clear winner.

    “Among GOP men, the same pattern emerges — no clear advantage for Palin, Huckabee or Romney. But among Republican women, it’s a different story. Palin has a 10-point edge among Republican women, winning 32 percent support among them to 22 percent for Huckabee and 20 percent for Romney,” adds Holland. “With the sampling error, that’s not enough to say for sure that Palin is in the lead, but it does indicate that if the primaries were held tomorrow, Palin would have a good chance of being the favorite among GOP women.”

    With GOP Presidential primary schedule set to remain the same, Flap anticipates a battle royal in Iowa and South Carolina between Palin and Huckabee.

    But, it is very early.

    Technorati Tags: , ,

  • Mike Huckabee,  Sarah Palin

    Mike Huckabee Strikes Back at Sarah Palin Over Gibson and Couric Interviews

    January 13, 2009 /
    Huckabee Palin and McCain
    Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Senator John McCain during the Presidential campaign of 2008

    The Mike Huckabee FANGS are out for Sarah Palin since her re-emergence on the national stage.

    There are a lot of X factors [about running in 2012]. Including his fellow evangelical Christian Sarah Palin. There’s a natural tension between the two, especially since Palin took the vice-presidential-nominee slot many predicted would go to him. Huckabee, diplomatic and biblical, says the Alaskan governor “energized” the party. I ask him if she was treated fairly by the media. “There were a lot of unfair things. Sexist things that would never have been asked of a male candidate.” He pauses. “Now I must say I did not think that either the Charlie Gibson interview or the Katie Couric interviews were unfair. In fact, if anything, Katie Couric was extraordinarily gentle, even helpful. [Palin] just…I don’t know what happened. I can’t explain it. It was not a good interview. I’m being charitable.”

    He pauses. “I think it was overpreparation. She’d been hammered by McCain’s aides, ‘Say this, don’t say that.’”

    Huckabee has met Palin a few times and talked to her backstage at the Republican National Convention.

    “Did you give her any advice?”

    “I didn’t figure that she was shopping for my advice.”

    “But she sure was shopping.”

    “Yeah,” chuckles Huckabee. Then stays quiet. I set him up for an easy spike, but he holds his tongue.

    Exit question: Since this is NOT the first time Huck has taken swipes at Palin, is this a preview of Ames Iowa Straw Poll in 2011?

    Technorati Tags: ,

  • Mike Huckabee,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin

    CNN Poll: Huckabee and Palin Lead 2012 GOP Race

    December 5, 2008 /
    Sarah Palin and John Huntsman

    Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman are seen during a news conference at the bipartisan meeting of the National Governor’s Association at Congress Hall, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

    Barack Obama has not even been inaugurated and the first of 2012 GOP Presidential polls are up.

    • Mike Huckabee – 34%
    • Sarah Palin – 32%
    • Mitt Romney – 28%
    • New Gingrich – 27%
    • Rudy Giuliani – 23%
    • Bobby Jindahl – 19%
    • Charlie Crist – 7%

    The survey size was 460 Republicans and the survey’s sampling error was 4.5%.

    Some interesting notes:

    “It might come as a surprise to some that Palin does better than Huckabee among GOP men but that Huckabee beats Palin among Republican women,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Palin’s strength is also concentrated among older Republicans, but Huckabee may have a slight edge among conservative Republicans.”

    Among voters who consider themselves born again or evangelical, Huckabee draws more support than Palin, with a 9 point edge. Meanwhile, Palin holds a 7-point advantage among non-born again or evangelical voters.

    It is way early but is there any reason why Mike Huckabee (with a smile) has been dumping on Palin lately?

    Stay tuned…..

    Technorati Tags: ,

  • Bobby Jindal,  Fred Thompson,  Mitt Romney,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani,  Sarah Palin

    John McCain Watch: VP Sweepstakes – Crist, Jindal and Romney? Part Two – With VP Poll

    May 22, 2008 /

    Mitt Romney, Charlie Crist and Bobby Jindal

    Vice President contenders? Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal

    The “purely social”get together of Senator and presumptive GOP Presidential nominee John McCain at his Sedona, Arizona ranch Saturday with GOP leaders has “nothing whatsoever to do with the vice presidential selection process” according to Charlie Black, a key McCain campaign strategist.

    Right.

    But, what is interesting is the emphasis (leak) now on Fox News that “other” perspective Vice President candidates have either ALREADY visited with McCain at the Hidden Valley Ranch, like Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty OR were invited this weekend and had other committments, like Mike Huckabee. Looks like the campaign was caught flat-footed on this “purely social” event.

    Others mentioned to attend the Memorial Day weekend BBQ include:

    • Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
    • Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas
    • Former e-Bay Chief Executive Meg Whitman
    • FedEx Corp. Chief Executive Frederick W. Smith

    Ok, so maybe this is a “meet and greet’ and not a serious series of interviews. But, what better way to create some “BUZZ” over the Vice Presidential sweepstakes and at the same time begin the pundit vetting of potential candidates – all on the cheap of an Arizona BBQ grill.

    So, Flap will go one step further and rip off this poll idea from Marc Ambinder except Flap will name names.

    Vote for John McCain’s Vice President:

    [polldaddy poll=”632471″]

    Previous:

    John McCain Watch: VP Sweepstakes – Crist, Jindal and Romney?

  • Barack Obama,  Mike Huckabee,  National Rifle Association,  President 2008

    Mike Huckabee Watch: NRA Obama – Gun Joke Falls Flat

    May 16, 2008 /

    The Mike Huckabee JOKE quote from the National rifle Association Convention:

    “That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he’s getting ready to speak. Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

    You don’t want to know how many people have told Flap that should Barack Obama win the Presidency that don’t worry someone will take him out.

    Good God!

    But, to have Mike Huckabee a former GOP Governor of Arkansas and Presidential candidate to make light of Obama in this manner – well, why doesn’t the GOP just surrender the election.