National Media: Dems Unelectable, GOP Unstoppable

By: TheGreenMiles
Published On: 12/6/2007 4:08:30 PM

The latest example comes from the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, Is Huckabee the Democrats' Biggest Nightmare?:
Mike Huckabee's rapid rise in the Republican presidential race is prompting concern among some Democratic strategists who believe that the former Arkansas governor could become a daunting general election foe should he secure the GOP nomination.

These operatives believe that Huckabee's profile -- former Baptist minister, southern governor, fitness preacher -- and self-effacing style on the stump could prove an appealing combination for moderate and independent voters.

The national media always paints Democrats as unelectable -- Clinton's too polarizing, Obama's too inexperienced, Edwards doesn't have gravitas. But the Republicans (at least during their brief bursts of popularity) are always painted as terrifying juggernauts -- Giuliani's so strong! Romney's so moderate and handsome! McCain's so straight-talky! Thompson's so Hollywood! And now we have Huckabee, who's the new Bill Clinton ... if Bill Clinton supported a wacky tax plan, didn't believe in evolution and said he was chosen by God to win Iowa.

Buried near the bottom of Cillizza's story:

"Former governors of Arkansas may have made fine general election candidates pre-9/11, but it's hard to see how Huckabee makes us feel safe and protected," said Democratic media consultant Jennifer Burton.
Gee, do you think that might be a problem?

Comments



Huckabee (Vrn84 - 12/6/2007 4:19:01 PM)
I am a student at VCU, and there are petitions going around to get Huckabee on the Va Primary... I am a little confused how a major GOP candidate wont be on the primary... Anywho I thought that was interesting


All candidates need to do this... (ericy - 12/6/2007 5:42:10 PM)

Just last weekend I saw someone trying to get Rudy on the ballot trying to get signatures in Alexandria at the Scottish Walk parade.  Not exactly a good location for him.  Did run into Mark Warner and shake his hand though.

I vaguely recall signing such a petition for the Democrats.  They had a single petition for all of the declared candidates that were running as Democrats.



I think we have a problem. (pol - 12/6/2007 6:23:55 PM)
I know moderate Republican Christians who are fed up with the radical right turn their party has taken and aren't quite ready to vote for a Democrat.  They are desperately looking for a viable candidate and this might be their guy. These people will never vote for Hillary Clinton, should she be our candidate.


Yeah, but.... (ericy - 12/6/2007 7:06:26 PM)

All of those non-religious types who want to blow things up all over the world won't be excited by Huck.  Those are the types that might vote for a Democrat (*cough*Hillary*cough*).

The corporatists won't be exited by Huck either, and they have no loyalties whatsoever.

My own guess is that Huck had been largely ignored by the press and the rest of the field up until now.  He will get some scrutiny, and the other Republicans in the race will do all they can to sabotage his candidacy.



Mike Huckabee is not Radical Right? (jackiehva - 12/7/2007 10:36:42 AM)
He sure is and that is why the Christian evangelicals have caused his meteoric rise in the polls.  If it comes down to Huckabee or Clinton, I'll stay home on election day.  


Just goes to show (Matusleo - 12/6/2007 6:30:05 PM)
that in politics, you can take nothing for granted.  The Media likes to think that they are the be all and end all of political discourse, but we've proven again and again in the last couple of years that it is just not so!

Huckabee has proven to be an interesting candidate.  But unless he receives a huge boost from Iowa, he will have trouble elsewhere.  He just doesn't have the resources or the national team to compete effectively without a huge swing in his direction.  At this point I think he needs a decisive win in Iowa to gain any traction, because the consensus is becoming that he'll win Iowa.  Nobody ever gets momentum when everyone expects them to win.

This will be a competitive election, and we should remember that we have to fight for it like every election.  In 1995, the GOP thought it was certain to win in 1996.  Instead, Clinton became the first Democratic President to win a second term since FDR.  We won in 2006.  That does not gives us a free ride in 2008.  Whoever the GOP nominates we need to take seriously.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim



Wow (MikeSizemore - 12/6/2007 10:47:33 PM)
That is a pretty sweet pic you found of Huckabee. I'd probably go fishing with Huck, especially if he could guide me near those bad boys!


Hmmm (TheGreenMiles - 12/7/2007 12:06:21 AM)

I don't know dude, those look suspiciously like pre-whacked snakes to me ...



Just part of the ol' spin cycle... (Kindler - 12/6/2007 11:26:17 PM)
Remember, the media's main goal in life is to sell papers (advertising to be specific), and one way (other than celebrity gossip) to make a political race more exciting through a continual process of beating up on frontrunners, raising up underdogs, then beating up on them when they become frontrunners, and so on.  Huckabee is interesting (e.g., the whole weight-loss thing, the non-angry conservative posture), and media types like that.  

But the backlash against him will start very soon, trust me.  The journalists giveth and they taketh away...