Huckabee closes in Florida

Posted: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 1:23 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Huckabee continues to surge in Florida, according to a new poll conducted by Strategic Vision (R) to be released tomorrow. With a margin of error of +/- 5.5%, Giuliani and Huckabee are in close competition for first place with 25% and 21%, respectively. McCain comes in third with 15%, leaving Romney in fourth with 13%. Thompson has 10%, Paul has 4%, and Tancredo has 2%.

These results show a different story from the last Strategic Vision poll conducted in this state, Nov. 7 to 9. Huckabee was fifth in that poll with 9%, while Giuliani had 31%. McCain, Thompson and Romney were statistically tied for second with 13%, 13% and 12%, respectively.

On the Democratic side, Clinton retains her large lead in Florida with 48%, up one point from the previous Strategic Vision poll. Obama is up four points from last month to 31% and Edwards is down two points to 6%. The margin of error for this poll is +/- 6%. The polls for both the Republican and Democratic candidates were conducted December 14 to 16.

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Comments

Elmer,

What is your suggestion for paying back the billions that Mr, B has blown on the Iraq war?

Shall we pray it away?

Debra (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:45 PM)

The bigotry by some on here is sickening.

Matt (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:38 PM)

If Huckabee is the nominee I will either vote for a third party candidate or the democrat. I will never vote for someone who has shown the religious bigotry thia so-called Christian has. He is antiscience actually advocated isolating pople like Ryan White. He destroyed hard drives that would have shown his misuse of the state plane. He accepted thousands of dollars from tobacco companies and other while serving as gov. because he daid the pay wasn't enough. He has a gift registry when leaving office to pay for a home. His son kills a dog and he tries to cover it up. He is horrible on taxes and his national sales tax would kill the poor and middle class. People need to look past this aw shucks image and see shat he has done. His experience in Arkansas makes White Water look like nothing.

Bud Parks. Tempe AZ (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:41 PM)

President Huckabee will take the country back where it belongs and restore the meaning of CHRISTMAS, AND WREST IT AWAY FROM THE GRINCH, who makes the word CHRISTMAS taboo from all media. The GRINCH now rules. Huckabee seems like the only candidate with the guts to defeat GRINCH.

Joe Melosi, Edwardsville, IL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:50 PM)

I had sex with Patricia M. She was great in bed. She loves sex and is a whore.

Larry Punc (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:53 PM)

Carol,

Why are you far-left wingnuts so bitter?

Chill out and Merry Christmas!

Mary (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:57 PM)

Boy who should I vote for A women who's husband almost got impeached. A black with a middleeastern name. A mormon, a ex New York major who has been married numerous times or a Baptist bile beater. Go figure

andy hansen (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:58 PM)

Hey Carol, count me in as one more Christian that's praying for you. I'm also a Huckabee supporter, but I don't appreciate you lumping me in a category that demonizes those who don't follow Christianity. In fact, I have a deep concern for those who die unsaved. Think about it- you really want to take a chance at spending forever in Hell?

Doug, Astoria, IL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:59 PM)

Contrary to Nanette's ravings, I say Huckabee would have a very good chance of carrying Arkansas. He was liked by people on both sides of the aisle (which is VERY rare for a state like Arkansas that has a strong democratic bent) and he was very effective as a governor here. Ease up on that caffiene, Nanette...

Wes, Little Rock (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:00 PM)

Mike Huckabee is like George Bush with a pulse or maybe the anti-Christ, but one thing for sure, he is as crooked as a stick.

Joe USA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:04 PM)

Doug,

You are hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.

Carol (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:22 PM)

Carol - You are right on, for the most part the Bible is a fairy tale when it comes to the historical Jesus. The biblical story of Jesus was taken from the cult of Mithra, which was one of the main religions at that time. Mithra was suppose to have walked on water, turned water into wine, healed the sick and raised the dead. Sounds familar? This was done to convert the pagans into Christianity. If Jesus was here, he would be laughing his head off.

Tom CA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:23 PM)

Huckabee is the finest candidate among the Republicans. No Democrats can compare with him. He must be the next President of the United States of America.

Marcel Tapia, Lihue, HI 96766 (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:43 PM)

"Strategic Vision = Push Polling"

I think you're onto something there... bet Mike has these guys on speed dial by now.

ChristianConservative, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:53 PM)

I am absolutely astounded that Huckabee is getting this much press, even with the ignorant so-called Christian community. Don't these people read? Haven't they looked into the depths of what this country is needing? Instead, they scream their hearts out and clap their hands over anyone who simply mentions the word "Jesus" in public. But those who do the same for Mohammed are considered weird!?!?!

Don, Orange Beach, AL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:03 PM)

I still have faith in the majority of American voters -- the cycle of Bush and Clinton will end and two sane forward-thinking individuals will earn their respective party's nominations, John McCain and Barack Obama. As a long-time Arkansas resident trust me when I say that Hillary and Huck are not the leadership answer for this country in 2008.

Anthony, Fort Smith, Arkansas (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:40 PM)

The media is no true American. They shows no justice for everyone. If it's good enough for MITT, why not RON PAUL? I felt like the whole Media is truthly all injustice and does not give Ron Paul any chance. It's totally Discrimination for Ron Paul. What is the matter with the media people? I hope when Ron Paul wins, I hope he will shut down all of the medias, and reconstruction new media who have the justiceable. Justice for everyone and it's american. Accept the diversity. NO disverity, no justice, no equals, IT S NOT AN AMERICA THING. You Medias SUCKS. RON will win the hope of america. If my comment is nt aproved, you guys discriminate at us. RON PAUL Has MY VOTE!!! VOTE FOR FREEDOM!!! Beside this is written by a deaf man.

Jerry Hess, Deland, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:54 PM)

The media is no true American. They shows no justice for everyone. If it's good enough for MITT, why not RON PAUL? I felt like the whole Media is truthly all injustice and does not give Ron Paul any chance. It's totally Discrimination for Ron Paul. What is the matter with the media people? I hope when Ron Paul wins, I hope he will shut down all of the medias, and reconstruction new media who have the justiceable. Justice for everyone and it's american. Accept the diversity. NO disverity, no justice, no equals, IT S NOT AN AMERICA THING. You Medias S*CKS. RON will win the hope of america. If my comment is nt aproved, you guys discriminate at us. RON PAUL Has MY VOTE!!! VOTE FOR FREEDOM!!! Beside this is written by a deaf man. People who reads this, please dont heck believe in any Meidas.

Jerry Hess, Deland, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:56 PM)

The media is no true American. They shows no justice for everyone. If it's good enough for MITT, why not RON PAUL? I felt like the whole Media is truthly all injustice and does not give Ron Paul any chance. It's totally Discrimination for Ron Paul. What is the matter with the media people? I hope when Ron Paul wins, I hope he will shut down all of the medias, and reconstruction new media who have the justiceable. Justice for everyone and it's american. Accept the diversity. NO disverity, no justice, no equals, IT S NOT AN AMERICA THING. You Medias S*CKS. RON will win the hope of america. If my comment is nt aproved, you guys discriminate at us. RON PAUL Has MY VOTE!!! VOTE FOR FREEDOM!!! Beside this is written by a deaf man. People who reads this, please dont heck believe in any Meidas.

Jerry Hess, Deland, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:58 PM)

What I want to know is, why is the Christian Right so demonized among lefties? Does the truth really hurt that bad?

Doug, Astoria, IL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:05 PM)

a vote for obama is a vote for opera...jesse jackson...oj and al sharpton can america afford pay back time...we have bush paying back big oil for 8 years

robert the woodlands tx (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:09 PM)

I'm trying to decide between two candidates: Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. It's really tough to decide. Both candidates have comparable educational backgrounds that qualify them to lead the United States (Huckabee's bachelor degree in religion from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia is roughly equivalent to Romney's cum laude law degree and Baker scholar MBA degree from Harvard, right?). Both candidates served as governors of states that face equally complex problems (Arkansas, with its population of 2.8 million and gross state product of $87 billion, is pretty much the same as Massachusetts, with its population of 6.4 million and gross state product of $318 billion, right?). Both candidates have pre-political experience that qualify them to be President (Huckabee was a pastor of several Southern Baptist churches in Arkadelphia, Texarkana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas and served as president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention; no doubt equal to Romney's founding and taking of Bain Capital from a $37M fund to a $50B fund in 20 years and rescuing the 2002 Olympics). And both have wives and children that would make a great First Family (compare Huckabee family photo at http://rubechat.kfan.com/forums/thread/2297213.aspx with Romney family photo at http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/about-mitt-romney/ ). So you can see why I am having such a difficult time making up my mind . . .

Anthony, California (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:28 PM)

Liberals, wake up and smell the coffee! Huckabee is a genuine American, who happens to be a Christian leader. If you "lefties" would ever read the Bible OR paid attention to the constitution, you will realize we were founded on Christian principles! Duh!!!

Jenni, Cedar Rapids, IA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:50 PM)

I find the coverup of his son's animal abuse disturbing. Huckabee said that the dog "looked like it was going to attack". That's a great reason to hang, stone and eviscerate a dog. I am outraged that this story isn't on every news channel. I guess you won't see this on Fox, will we? Where is the compassion in this world?

Keith (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:04 PM)

Last time I checked, there's nothing wrong with using the Bible as a guide for making decisions. Only devilish minded people think it is wrong.

Johnny Be Good Tampa, Fl (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:08 PM)

I have decided not to vote in '08. Both the DNC and RNC candidates will be too enthusiastic about the government's abiity to do good. Boths Dem's and Repub's want to continue the 10 billion a month war and if for no other reason that that, I will not vote. I will only vote if someone says what Ronald Reagan once said: "The government IS the problem".

Roger, Palm City, Fl (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:14 PM)

It always amazes me how many uneducated and ignorant people post the thoughts that ought to remain behind their empty skull. I have been studying all the candidates for presidency, on both sides, and I still have yet to decide which one I desire as the President of the United States. There are a few I can say I have already marked OFF my list. I had enough of the mockery of the presidency under Bill C., so I do not desire a re-run. I'm not impressed with the RINO in Arizona. If you're a Democrat, say it. Don't hide behind a Republican title just to get into office. As for the others, I'm still researching. However, I will not, as I have noticed others have done, throw a candidate out based on "hear say". Quit believing every word you read in a post and do your homework! So many Americans today are like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz - in need of a brain. Come on America!

Brian - Lakeland, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:19 PM)

REPUBLICAN EVANGELICALS: WAKE UP!! IT IS SHORTSIGHTED TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE RADAR FOR 3 WEEKS. Rudy & Romney have been under the microscope for a year and are still hanging in there. Once Huck has been under the microscope for 3 or 4 months, he will be completely unelectable in the main election. PLEASE, REPUBLICANS DO NOT VOTE FOR HUCK. HE CANNOT BEAT HILLARY. PLEASE VOTE FOR RUDY OR ROMNEY!!!!

Nate, Temple, Texas (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:29 PM)

Huckabee wants to "isolate" carriers with HIV so they will all be gone from the land within 10-15 years. This is exactly what we did to the Japanese Americans we sent to internment camps.....google it.

CG,JAX,FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:29 PM)

I can't believe that the american people will elect either a woman or someone who will not put their hand on the bible for president.

B. Lee, Chanute, Kansas (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:43 PM)

Huckabee will not win Florida. Ron Paul will. And the reason why the dog killing is such a big deal is because, if Huck cannot raise his own child correctly, how can you expect him to lead the most powerful country on the planet? The polls mean nothing. The opinion of a few hundred people does not represent the opinion of a few million.

Jarrett, Orlando, Fl (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:04 AM)

The arguing on this board about religion is the EXACT reason why politics and religion should not mix. Huckabee has opened a can of worms by using his faith to gain votes and all it does is divide people. Enough already. I am a Christian but I will not be voting for Huckabee. Instead I will vote for the man who is best for the job of being President. Ron Paul.

Tyler, Birmingham, AL (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:11 AM)

Just believing in something doesn't make it true for any of us. People need to start examining the evidence. When you weigh the candidates, pick the one that you feel represents you the best, that's why America;s election system is so awesome. But anyway, look deeper than the surface. Go Mike Huckabee, get America back!

Taylor, Monticello, Georgia (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 AM)

I love how the haters are now talking about Huck's SON. The establishment candidates and their supporters are all up in arms because they can't figure out how Huckabee is leading them. Here it is for you guys, in a nutshell. HOPE (not Arkansas, real hope) will always beat out fear tactics (Guiliani) and laughable pandering (Romney). Bush was completely beatable, but the Dems put up a terrible candidate in Kerry. I fear they will do the same with Hillary, who has managed to claim every positive thing her husband's presidency did as her own, while obviously sidestepping the bad stuff (Must've been Bill's fault).

Tony, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 AM)

Wow! so Carol is the only one who pays taxes for those goverment buildings. And I thought all Americans paid taxes!

Eddie, Quartz Hill, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 AM)

Here are things going to be after all said and done,
Hillary is going to be elected President,Obama going to offer the Secretary of State job,is going to refuse
Bill Richardson going to get it,Jhon Kerry going to be on the tiket for Vice President or the Mayor of NY michael blomberg.
By the way my prediction are not 100% accurate just like Nostradamus

George M (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:55 AM)

Carol,

I guess I am, also, one of those "your types", that you were referencing. So a few questions/statements come to mind.

Reguarding your "Of course, that makes YOU think you are better than I am." I really don't. But,I am sure that there are many people whom think they are better than you; christians, non-christians and non-relious people. Why do things have to be taken personally...its not personal, its personality. Some people just have the "better than thou/you" personality.

AS for your freedom of choice statement...you seem to be upset that "Christians" are tring to make choices for you, NOW....when what was written by the founding fathers, that has protected you and that you live by (assumingly) was made by the same God fearing men. Well, If I wanted to I could be upset that the non-relious people are trying to make choices for me and the future...BUT I will not, as I do not believe that religon is where that focus should be.

Also, I could very easily say that I don't want people talking in spanish or french in the government building that I PAY FOR...but I would be stretching and twisting, as I believe to many times that "separation of church and state" is.

One last thing...As a local radio personality said recently: "NO where in the constituion does it say that I have the right NOT to be offended." So many times, I am offended but don't think changes should be made or could be made that would be "good" for everyone.

Lynn-Arkansas (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:59 AM)

Hucabee is very appealing to me but he wont get it from me this time; because I am Clinton registered Democrat with moderate to conservative vue on social issue but tend to be liberal on fiscal feel a need to be tough on repeat crimes offender but at the same time to give people chances and the tools to succeed to avoid repeating mistakes.

George M Holbrook Mass (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:12 AM)

Not to my suprise, its seems that mostly librals are writing on this site. As in most cases all I hear are ramblings of people that make absolutely no sense. They sound bitter about life, not informed at all. I feel sorry for people like these.

Jeff (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:25 AM)

Yes, Carol, why don't you tell us about how you suffer depression and anxiety and low self-esteem and how you just can't feel loved no matter what you do and how that friend of yours said you are pretty snotty?

(I'd provide more details but I don't want to embarass you any further.)

How do I know? I guess, the Holy Spirit that shows us all things, is just a fairy tale...right?

monique, tucson, AZ (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:46 AM)

Huck's FairTax - A fringe idea, NOT

Renown economist, Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff, has stated (9/26/2006),

"Yes I think [the U.S. is bankrupt] because if you look at our long term fiscal obligations and compare them with our tax receipts that are projected to come in, you end up finding the difference in present value is equal to $63 trillion. This is according to an update of a U.S Treasury study. So it is not an academic study but rather a government study.

"To come with $63 trillion in present value, you would have to have an immediate and permanent roughly 70 percent hike in federal corporate and personal income taxes. Alternatively you could immediately double the payroll tax. So we are talking about gargantuan adjustments here, huge problems that we are facing, and a lot of this has to do with the fact that the society is aging. We are currently facing 33 million people over 65. But when the Boomers retire there will be about 77 million people over 65. And we are currently handing out per old person roughly $30,000 on average in Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid benefits. But when the Boomers retire we are going to be paying them a lot higher level of benefits because these benefit levels continue to grow much more rapidly than wages per worker. So think about 77 million Baby Boomers getting roughly $40,000 per head, and you see the magnitude of the problem. We are talking trillions of dollars. $44,000 times 77 million is a very big number. It is in the trillions, A couple trillion dollars a year in obligations. So I do not think it is an exaggeration to say the country is bankrupt."

Kotlikoff sees passing Huck's FairTax as a vehicle to derail economic meltdown: http://snipr.com/meltdowninprogress

And he's not alone: http://snipurl.com/econsopenletter

Ian from Ann Arbor (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:36 AM)

MIKE HUCKABEE RAISED HIS OWN SON TO TORTURE DEFENSELESS ANIMALS TO DEATH! HOW WOULD HE RAISE YOUR COUNTRY?

Jackson Hewitt,Atlanta,Georgia (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:50 AM)

FairTax should appeal to all those who don't care about eternal life in the lake of fire. Look beyond his beliefs and you still have the best candidate for president

Clay, Braselton Georgia (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:10 AM)

Carol, Jesus Loves You

Clay (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:12 AM)

Jesus will bless those who glorify His name. God Bless U.S.A.!! Which candidate is best suited for the job?

Clay, Braselton Georgia (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:19 AM)

Huckabee reminds me too much of Jimmy Carter; too many people pinning there hopes on someone they don't really know. Let's not make THAT mistake again!

Bob, Orlando, Florida (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:09 AM)

First and foremost- Go Gators!

Secondly, I'm shocked at how "holier than thou" some of the dem/left posters are, like everyone's kids haven't done something stupid, as if they haven't had to bail their kids out for underage drinking or smoking weed or wrecking the Volvo they passed down while texting to BFF's on their IPhones. What hypocrites.

Before I say the following, so that I don't seem to be an ideologue, I've voted for Clinton, Bush & Nader in the 3 elections I could vote in (the Nader vote was a protest- Kerry was gutless & unprincipled, Bush had made and continues to make, a lot of questionaable/bad decisions, not the least of which was, as little as it's discussed, suing on behalf of the girl getting affirm action curtailed at U. of Michigan which sealed the deal for Nader in my book):

I learned in the last election that the Dem/far left angst over a candidate varies directly with the fervor with which Republicans and Christian Conservatives go out and vote for that candidate. Huckabee might just win. I'm a Christian who thinks he's been a bit tactless with his Christianity in his ads and that Romney Mormon comment though he apologized, which is making me lean to McCain a little if I had to pick an Rep., but to watch the handwringing lefties do over Huckabee is rather hilarious. It was seriously so sad, watching all my grad school friends (in DC, to put this in context) dying over Bush's reelection. It was amazing how invested they were- I mean, I was too, but the hate these so-called liberals spewed and the despair over something beyond their control...

And please stop accusing Republicans of playing the religion card when all of the Dem candidates are Christians too. It's amazing how much people care about dogs and how callous they can be toward fellow American PEOPLE who are struggling, the kind of people I believe Huck genuinely has a heart for, in no small part due to his experience as a pastor. Christians, or at least professed Christians, have always run our government. We've done pretty good so far. But we do need to make sure that competence and ability is the primary factor in selecting a president-Christians just believe that faith, fairly and rightly directed, can be as big an asset as these other qualities.

Cedric, Charlotte (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:37 AM)

I'm sure that all the candidates are "nice people" to a certain degree, and that's great, but we don't need that in a president. We need someone with experience in all parts of governing who will lead the country. Please don't vote for someone because they have good jokes or can talk easily about Jesus. PLEASE look at the issues and vote for someone who can lead ALL of America. I haven't yet decided for myself who that is, but for me, it's NOT Mike Huckabee.

Independent Mom, Maryland (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:05 AM)

I don't think it's possible to find a candidate that can lead "all of America." Someone's bound to be p'd off by whoever's elected. This is why we have to respect people we disagree with. Frankly, the only way a person could please everyone would be to flipflop all over the place- and we recognize that as disingenous (or Mitt Romney).

Actually I thought he did ok on Meet the Press considering all the stuff he's caused himself to have to fend off...I'm all for recent converts but excuse me if i vote for an older parishioner, to use Church language...

Are Dems upset at their candidates for professing their religion? I thought it was remarkably telling watching one of Frank Luntz's "knob" polls during a Joe Biden comment in the recent debate and seeing how the approval numbers fell through the floor when he quoted from a hymn he says he sings in church...This reaction to the most experienced and principled guy on the Dem side, most likely (though I like Edwards, Obama and even Hill in a pinch, a pinch being any Repub. besides McCain and maybe Huck getting the nomination...)

Cedric, Charlotte (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:19 AM)

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