WASHINGTON – The Baptist preacher from Arkansas who sprinkled his speech with southern jokes while standing his ground on moral issues won the support of over half the religious and cultural conservatives who voted at a key gathering this weekend.
Republican White House hopeful and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee received 51.26 percent of the onsite votes in the Values Voter Summit’s straw poll compared to onsite runner-up Mitt Romney’s 10.40 percent, according to announcement Saturday.
Yet despite the strong onsite showing, Huckabee lost overall to former Massachusetts governor Romney by a narrow margin of 30 votes, receiving altogether 1,565 votes (online and onsite) compared to his rival’s 1,595 votes.
“It has been such an uphill battle trying to get fair coverage on Mike Huckabee,” said Eric Lupardus, a volunteer with Team Huckabee, after the straw poll results were revealed.
Lupardus and his father traveled from St. Louis, Mo., to join more than 2,500 “value voters” for the three-day summit in Washington and support their candidate of choice.
“[Huckabee’s] speech was the best and people were just fired up,” he said, describing the crowd’s response as “overwhelming.”
“Then to see a candidate with more money and a better oiled machine steal the vote online was just really frustrating,” he added.
However, Lupardus said he also felt “vindicated” with the straw poll result because it “shot those people down” who said Huckabee didn’t have what it takes to be president or to get the votes.
“I think he (Huckabee) best represents the conservative movement in America,” Lupardus said when asked the reason for his support of the former Arkansas governor.
The Values Voters straw poll result was a shocker to many people at the summit given the visible outpour of support for the Baptist preacher turned presidential candidate. Of all the candidates present at the summit, Huckabee received the most standing ovations from the crowd.
Huckabee – who said he does not “come to” but rather “comes from” the values voting audience – pledged to make a constitutional amendment to the definition of marriage and when life begins and protect the freedom of speech of pastors.
“We do not have the right to move God’s standard to meet the cultural norm but we need to move the cultural norm to meet God’s standards,” said Huckabee in reference to risky sexual behavior.
He also vowed to protect the border, reform the tax system, fight Islamic fascism, and stop energy and manufactured dependence.
“I don’t want to see our food come from China, our oil come from Saudi Arabia, and our manufacturers come from Europe and Asia,” said Huckabee, who Time Magazine named as one of the five best governors in America in 2005
“It is high time for us to tell Saudi Arabia that in ten years we will have as much interest in their oil as their sand; they can keep both of them,” he said to a crowd of laughter and applause.
“For too long we have financed both sides of the war on terrorism; our tax dollars pay for our military to fight it and our oil dollars – every time you fill the tank – is turned into the madrasahs that teach terrorists and the money that funds them,” said the former governor. “Enough is enough.”
The second-tier Republican candidate used a series of Bible references during his speech to the delight of the overwhelming white evangelical crowd. He also firmly reminded voters to not compromise their values to accommodate a candidate they think is more electable.
“Some things are not negotiable – the sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, the purpose of our freedom and the opportunity to worship as we please,” he said. “Let us never sacrifice our principles for anybody’s politics not now, not ever."
In August, Huckabee also came in second to Romney in the Iowa straw poll. His strong showing surprised many people who at the time never even heard of his name. Huckabee had responded positively to his second place win by noting his campaign had few resources to spend on the straw poll (less than $100,000) compared to the millions spent by Romney – a successful entrepreneur who is said to have tens of millions at his disposal to spend on his campaign.
“Romney won the Ames, Iowa, straw poll in August by spending a lot of money,” CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider said, according to CNN. “We don’t know how much of an organizational effort was behind this victory.”
Schneider said Romney’s true acceptance among conservative Christians will not be clear until the Iowa Republican caucuses in January and the South Carolina Republican Primary. The political analyst also noted Romney’s Mormon faith might cause some Christian conservatives to not support him.
The Values Voters straw poll was the highlight of the Family Research Council’s annual Values Voters Summit in Washington. More than 2,500 people attended the summit which featured all the Republican presidential candidates. Democratic candidates were also invited but all declined the invitation.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul finished in third place with 15 percent of the vote, and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson finished at a disappointing fourth place with 10 percent despite his initial warm welcome from the audience.
In total, 5,775 votes were cast onsite and online. The least acceptable presidential candidate to values voters is New York Sen. Hillary Clinton (71 percent), followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (9 percent).
Comments
Huck is a Christian Pastor? He does not even know it took God 6 days to create & that God spoke & creation came to be. He says as much here--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-BFEhkIujA
The only part he got correct was "God did it.". GWB fooled us the same way.
"I don't know I wasn't there" just don't cut it. The Bible is very clear on this.
The only one calling for a return to the Constitution & the Founder's advice for over 20 years is Ron Paul. Just because Ron doesn't go around saying "Jesus is my role model, vote for me" does not mean he is not a Christian. Ron also has a 100% PRO Constitution voting record.
Heckabee is a sham.
The next day Huckabee called a news conference and desperately tried to back off of his commitment by complaining about the fairness of the question and it’s pertinence to the presidency, saying that if he were to be elected president he would continue to encourage the teaching of evolution in public schools and that he would make it illegal to teach Biblical creation in the same.
From-- http://tinyurl.com/2waump
Gov. Mike Huckabee is the best choice of all I know, who are candidates for president. He is a man of God and fully supports Christian principles. America needs a strong conservative Christian to lead us during these troubled times. If we tilt our votes the other way and elect a liberal, socialist, pacifist, or ineffective president, we will suffer losses and be taken over by the ungodly element. WE NEED MIKE HUCKBEE FOR OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF USA!!! James
Huckabee got me interested in politics again. He gave me hope that our nation can have a better future! Our government is of the people, for the people, and by the people and the People Want Huckabee!
I am now convinced that those wealthier donors to Romney's, Giuliani’s, and Thompson's campaign have wasted and if they continue, are wasting their hard earned money on candidates who do not have voter appeal or substance. Ultimately, it is the voters, and not a few wealthy donors who will determine the nominee. Every time Huckabee is heard his approval amongst Republicans increases even without the major financial support. Just imagine what would happen if he got the major financial support. He is the republican’s secret weapon in the 2008 election.
As a member of the younger generation, I will tell you point blank, Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson do not connect with us. I believe that the liberal media has somehow hoodwinked some within the republican leadership by influencing their perceptions about what the public wants in a candidate and what platform will win against Hillary. Just because some people do not like how the war effort is going DOES NOT mean that WE have to COMPROMISE OUR CONVICTIONS NOR DOES IT MEAN THAT THE PUBLIC HAS CHANGED THEIR CONSERVATIVE CONVICTIONS. Most Americans will vote against Socialism and Hillary's agenda if they are properly educated. The republican nominee must not only be educated but also have the temperament to educate and be down to earth with the public. Huckabee is the ONLY candidate who can achieve this.
Could it be possible that the real Huckabee has not caught the attention of media outfits is because, he has not greased enough palms under the table within various conservative members of the media? WE MUST UNITE TO GET THE MASONS OUT FROM INFLUENCING THIS ELECTION! Why do most of the presidential nominees have to belong to the masons or various secret societies? What do they have to hide? It is now time to blow the lid off deception of this dirty little secret. The masons control all the world banks and even call them dragons. They have been manipulating world affairs for many decades now in order to consolidate more power and wealth for their members who have various influences over business/banking, politics/government, media/communications and a growing influence over teaching/ education. The masons have an agenda. Giuliani, Thompson, and Romney follow the mason’s playbook step by step. Ultimately the masons do not care if Hillary, Obama, Thompson, Giuliani, or Romney wins this election because they all will follow the agenda of the Masonic leadership and the Masonic one world globalist philosophy.
Exposing the Masonic Hidden Agenda in US Politics
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-869614609770971945
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
I Like Mike!
If you are a bible believing christian, this man WILL line up with everything you believe. His morals ARE your Morals!!! This man really can win. I believe God has "got his back"!!
Gee where do I remember hearing all this. Oh maybe it was before George Bush Jr.s first term when conservatives were declaring that God had George Bush's back. And now see how conservative Christians are bailing out on George. When are Christians on the left and right going to stop putting faith in so-called Christian politcians. They say what they know you want to hear to win your vote but they do nothing to support your causes. The only cause they are concerned about is their reelection.
I don't agree with anyone in the race all the time. But Mike is like us. He believes in God, he believes in helping others. I only hope he believes in encouraging the people, not the government to take care of others. That should be the role of the church, not the state. Huckabee has shown some tendency to the nanny state (federal law banning smoking.) But even so, I'm proud that the only donation I've ever made to a presidential campaign is to Mike Huckabee.
Jprice, did you see Huckabee's speech? (just checking...because if you watch it...its quite impressive)
Your analysis of the results of the FRC straw poll leaves out too much, and relies too much on assumptions based on no data.
AS far as Romney v Huckabee, have you considered that since Romney spoke on Friday, and many of his supporters may very well have left before the on-site polling, they could quite reasonably have been voting online. Huck's supporters were far more likely to have been on site for the vote Saturday, since he spoke shortly prior. Your assertion that the 600 online votes from attendees don't count for anything is far too simplistic - they could just as easily, and just as reasonably, have been mainly for Romney, which would put him close to or above Huck in the attendees column.
What the results of the poll show, without doubt, is that both Thompson and Giuliani wowed no one. OUCH.
www.mikehuckabee.com
All social conservatives really need to take the time to check him out. He is what we have been waiting for!
These quotes comes from the link that follows.
"CAUTION: these three pages are extremely explicit with nudity. The people you see at that link are "respected" by Mike Huckabee; yes he has said you should "respect gay couples." ".
"I know that Huckabee is popular with sincere individuals like Janet Folger of Values Voter.org, but Huckabee has ZERO qualifications to be president of these united States of America because he has little understanding of constitutional government and it shows during these debates and his speeches."
http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd312.htm.
I say vote Ron Paul. He is the only100% Constitution supporter running. He has a 20+ 100% PRO-Const. year voting record to back him up. If the bottom line is returning to original intent Const. gov., Ron Paul is the man for the job.
Mike Huckabee will never say we all pray to the same God or that criminals seeking asylum from Mexico should be given citizenship. He can save the GOP and Christians can vote for him at the same time. Plus, he's electable. He is Presidential material. He has integrity, morals and a backbone., so he's not much of a politician but we might not need a third party candidate after all...
Great article!!
Christian conservative leaders have been slow to back Governor Huckabee because he didn't have a billion dollars to spend at the beginning of this race. They have been quoted all over the internet saying, "I like Mike, but he's not electable because he's not raising the funds." He hasn't been able to drop $52 million into his campaign, like another Rep. candidate, but as his visibility in the public eye goes up, so are his fundraising numbers.
Now, if you like what you see, do this: go to mikehuckabee.com and make a contribution, of any amount. Here's the link: https://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contribute.Home
While you're there, check out the issues page, and the blogs. You'll be so glad to see that we have a genuine, viable, likeable, positive choice this time. No more voting for the lesser of two evils!