Iowa is where Mike Huckabee catapulted himself into the upper echelon of GOP figures, and Iowa Republicans still like him--more than they like his chief 2012 rivals.
Almost 11 months after he surprised the Republican presidential field with a win in the 2008 Iowa caucus, Huckabee collected the highest favorable rating of all major 2012 contenders in a Des Moines Register poll with 70 percent, beating out (in consecutive order) Sarah Palin (68), Newt Gingrich (66), and Mitt Romney (58).
Huckabee keeps the edge on Palin in unfavorable rating, too: 12 percent of Iowa Republicans see him unfavorably, vs. 24 percent for Palin.
Here's how favorability ratings broke down among all 800 poll respondents, including Democrats and independents:
Mark, have you seen Mike Huckabee's new book, A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS? It's not political but very personal, and likely to make him even more popular....
I’ve lived my whole life in Northwest Iowa, a very conservative part of the state. I think any non-evangelical GOP candidate should skip Iowa altogether and make it plain why they’re doing so. A non-evangelical stands no chance against evangelical GOP candidates here. The only hope someone like Mitt Romney stands is if Palin and Huckabee both run and split the Christianist vote. Winners of the GOP Iowa Caucuses don’t have a real good track record of winning the nomination and/or presidency anyway. Democratic candidates who win Iowa have a much better track record of winning the nomination and presidency. All other hopeful GOPers should just stay out and let Huckabee and Palin duke it out.
Interesting split on Palin v Huckabee. I'd be curious to see
analysis of the respondents who love Palin and dislike Huck, and vice versa (the people who like/dislike all evangelicals are easier to understand). How do the two camps differ? Is it plausible to see them shifting support to the other evangelical if their preferred one pulled out or flamed out?
No real surprise....
Huckabee represents the populist "grass-roots" conservative without the baggage of Palin. He is likeable, affable, and recognizable.
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Breaking News.....
MIKE HUCKABEE WINS SEVEN 2012 PRESIDENTIAL POLLS IN A ROW
7) Iowa 2012 Presidential Poll (11-23-09)
* Huckabee 39%, Gingrich 32%, Romney 32%
6) USA Today Poll (11/05/09)
* Huckabee 71%, Romney 65%, Palin 65%
5) CNN Poll (10/28/09)
* Huckabee 32%, Palin 25%, Romney 21%
4) Rasmussen Poll (10/15/09)
* Huckabee 29%, Romney 24%, Palin 18%
3) PPP Poll (09/24/09)
* Huckabee 41%, Romeny 39%, Palin 38%
2) AOL Poll (10/01/09) ~ 200,000 votes
* Huckabee 25%, Romney 22%, Other (14%)
1) Value Voter Poll (09/19/09)
* Huckabee 28%, Romney 12%, Pawlenty 12%
Mike Huckabee's popularity continues to soar to record levels everyday. A Gigantic network of Huckabee Fans are multiplying at an unprecedented pace throughout America, making it's way into every county of every state. The last time America saw this astronomical grassroots growth was when Ronald Reagan made his comeback win from 1976 to his landslide victory in 1980.
Check it out for yourself, just google the 3 simple words:
Huckabee Fan Club
THAT POLL IS OLD, COVERING NOV 8 - 10, WELL BEFORE HER BOOK TOUR. Let's see her numbers AFTER the book tour and AFTER she's had a chance to redefine herself on her own terms.
Huckabee's populist rhetoric during the 2008 primary was enough to make me puke. We can do far better after having a communist in the White House. Besides, Mike Huckabee is a KNAVE! I must admit that if he wins the nomination of the GOP I will have to support him. In the mean time this conservative will do everything in his power to make sure that he doesn't get the nomination including flying to Iowa to knock on doors in frigid temperatures like I did in January, 2008. (Will someone get Mike a years morning delivery of fresh doughnuts so he balloons back up to around 400 lbs and can’t move!!!)