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Mike Huckabee being steered toward 2012 race Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008 By David Sanders Let me put our former governor on the couch for a minute. I think I know what is going on in Mike Huckabee's mind. In fact, the thought process hasn't changed all that much since he was a pastor of a local church trying to become the state's leading Baptist, or when he ascended to the governor's office, or even when he launched his long shot campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. His ambition is fueled by a burning desire to be relevant, which comes only by achieving a level of distinction, deserved only by a man with his numerous talents. More often than not, the subtext of his ambition affectedly irritates the prevailing conventional wisdom. It's his shtick. For some, this has fashioned an attraction. For example, one might ascribe to Huckabee a level of coolness simply because of the screaming contradiction of him being a former preacher with a rock'n roll band. But, others might be turned off by his provocative ways. For instance, one might question why he found it necessary, or even sensible, to run to Barack Obama's defense on the morning cable shows after the Democrat did very little to distance himself from his preacher who spewed poisonous words, which to more reasonable ears were abhorrent. Even taking the positive with the negative, together it denotes a sort of lack of seriousness, which is partly why the broader Republican electorate often liked the way Huckabee spoke, but weren't too keen on what he had to say. He was likable, but lacked stature. As it is, Huckabee finds himself in a very peculiar place, having stayed in the GOP contest long enough to capture second place, and now trying to set himself up as the next big thing for the next presidential contest. One of his loyal allies swore to me, with the conviction of an animated evangelist, that Huckabee would, at some point, be elected the president of the United States. How? Immediately he started spewing all of Huckabee's strengths as a candidate, along with a few words about a new movement that he had created during the campaign. My query had nothing to do with style or mechanics, but rather the calendar and political reality. The Republicans have a nominee in 2008, John McCain, who, my most effective measurements of public opinion, is bettering the two Democrats, who due to the prolonged primary calendar, have managed to do damage to each other and to themselves. Did he think that Huckabee would land the coveted second spot on the ticket? Not likely. So then what of Huckabee's future chances if McCain were to win this fall with someone else filling the No. 2 spot - a very real possibility? In response, he discounted the chance for a McCain victory, which for this guy wasn't bad news. As he saw it, McCain's demise would create a vacuum that Huckabee would then fill. A couple of other Huckabee supporters, with whom I inquired about Huckabee's political future, also downplayed the possibility of McCain winning in November. In addition, they volunteered information about a meeting that occurred Monday at the Capital Hotel, at which the former governor met with folks emerging as his steering committee - a virtual deus ex machina - comprised of some of his largest donors and political confidants. Apparently many such meetings are in the offing at which Huckabee's future plans would be vetted, set and implemented. It makes one wonder who this crew will be rooting for in November? ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
