A Huckabee Supporter Eyes Trouble In South Carolina

I am have been perusing the web today noting the aftermath of the Huckabee victory. Lots of interesting facets going on. However I am observing that as usual most non Evangelicals do not understand Evangelicals one bit. That is one facet. Another interesting one that I am finding interesting is that Rush seems to be thinking Reagan Democrats are expendable now.

The Corner blog between their Huck bashing and Mrs Lopez telling everyone not to abandon Ship, Be Calm, Don't jump off the ledge, Where is the Gin, Etc for the millionth time today has as always some interesting nuggets. I thought this email was very perceptive:

Subject: South Carolina and Huckabee From a South Carolinian [Rich Lowry]
E-mail:
As a South Carolinian (but a Democrat) I'd be amazed if Huckabee wins. Huckabee's economic populism just doesn't win there. Pat Buchanan (after his New
Hampshire) win thought he'd win down here too on this SoCon/Class Warfare stuff but he didn't.
Both Mark Sanford and Jim DeMint pretty much beat Social Conservatives in their respective primaries for Governor and Senator. South Carolinians GOPers have saved your party from the [bad] decisions of New Hampshire and Iowa time and time again. I expect nothing less than for them to do it again.
01/04 04:05 PM

and

Subject: Huckabee [Rich Lowry]
E-mail:
Hi, Mr. Lowry:
Regarding SC and FL, you are assuming that evangelicals in Iowa are the same as evangelicals in SC and FL. It remains my contention that they are not, at least in SC. While I am sure that a minority of evangelicals here might be open to an appeal based solely on religion, the majority of GOP evangelicals in SC are also conservatives. They do not accept candidates who are so willing to accept tax increases, enlarge government, or conduct a Carter-like foreign policy. Part of Huckabee’s strength with evangelicals outside of Iowa has been his ability to call on religious solidarity while concealing his more liberal or non-conservative views and positions behind a veneer of conservatism. He hasn’t been called HARD on it yet. If whoever the main non-evangelical candidate here is can clearly and convincingly make the argument that Huckabee is a Carter-like Christian leftist, I strongly believe that he will lose a large chunk of his evangelical support. But, time is short. Romney and McCain will be tied up in NH and MI for much of the next week. That leaves Thompson as the main protagonist for Huckabee. He will have to make the argument as hard as he can, even if it eventually benefits another of his opponents.
01/04 03:41 PM

Now let me say this. There is a lot of truth here. This shows that Huckabee and his supporters must in a hurry rebuke all these myths about Huckabee being a economic liberal. That we must be quick to respond to the Club for Growths campaign that while full of lies has been a problem.

Evangelical voters like Catholics have different views depending on what part of the country they are in. For instance I expect a Catholic from Lafayette Louisiana is different in many political respects from a Catholic in New York.

But South Carolina is special. Despite being the first to try to leave the Union it is very much Establishment. The emailer is right. It is a fire wall against the new. Pat Buchanan was put down there. George Bush stamped out McCain .

In other words it is conservative also in the sense of stopping what it perceives to be major and drastic change as to the nomination races. Sort of a "let's slow her down here a tad "type thing.

Huckabee will have to hit his bonafides here and convince people he is not going to lead the revolution of "burn baby burn" that some excitable pundits are saying is happening. What happened last night was significant and important. However I feel we are seeing an addressing of valid concerns by people rather than blowing apart the Coalition. A sort of putting on notice that parts of the Coalition have some concerns that need to be addressed.

If Huckabee cannot do this who will get the nod? We shall see if the Thompson campaign has any life. It could be Romney. However if the GOP anti Huck people are smart they will swallow their pride and get behind McCain. The question is can they do it? I have my doubts.

However if the Evangelical bashing does not stop in certain quarters expect to see what we saw this summer.

This summer because of an over the top immigration debate about ten Subgroups of diverse Hispanics became united for the first time because they were tired of being made out to be a threat. I do not want to argue if that was the intention of those that opposed Comp immigration reform. However evidence from the 2006 elections shows us that is what happened.

If the bashing goes on "Group ID" and true Group politics for self preservation might occur. So we shall see what happens.

Let me say the South Carolina campaign has been going on for a while. I will try to get a feel later tonight if any of the Huckabee myths have gained traction down there in the last few months