Mike Huckabee Shows Surprisingly Well in Iowa Straw Poll

This past weekend, presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee surprised many by receiving the second largest amount of votes at the Iowa Republican straw poll. A get together and Iowa vote simulation, the straw poll is supposed to be indicative of where the majority of support will lie among presidential candidates, and in this case, specifically viable republican candidates. Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney came in first in the popularity poll among Iowans, although Governor Huckabee's surprising show may soon eclipse Romney's feat. An article in The Wall Street Journal described Mr. Huckabee's surprising result as having "...somewhat overshadowed the news of Mr. Romney's victory." The Wall Street journal article also stated that Mr. Huckabee's budget has been a fraction that of other top presidential campaigns, including Mr. Romney's, as Romney spent "...$200,000 for a consultant to organize the effort..." which "...was alone more than the $150,000 that Mr. Huckabee estimates he spent altogether. Mr. Romney rented buses; Mr. Huckabee's supporters had to find their own way. Where Mr. Romney hired bands to play Saturday at the huge hospitality space he rented, Mr. Huckabee entertained the older crowds himself with his band, Capitol Offense, jamming at one point to the 1970s hit 'Free Bird.'"

Mike Huckabee's greatest rivals now are not necessarily Rudy Guiliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain, but instead the slightly less well publicized candidates such as Senator Sam Brownback and politician-cum-actor Fred Thompson. At a time when many Republicans are still searching for that perfect candidate, who is also a social conservative, some may come to see Mr. Huckabee as their man.