[JCEccles]

With hopes in NH dwindling, Giuliani is privately cheering for Huckabee to do well in Iowa. He might even be supporting Huckabee secretly through back-channels. Because Giuliani is trailing Romney badly in Iowa as well, the only sensible strategy for Giuliani is to somehow trip Romney up in Iowa and prevent Romney from developing overwhelming momentum coming out of IA and NH. He has a slim outside chance of doing this via a surging Huckabee.

Huckabee is Giuliani's ally of convenience. Huckabee could even be his VP.

That's an ugly, dispiriting thought.

[Coldwater Creek]

No, Mike Huckabee could never be Rudy’s VP. Huckabee’s supporter’s would never vote for Rudy.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

They will all run into a wall called FRED in south carolina.

[xzins]

Guiliani needs to make it past the first 5 or 6 primaries. After that all the polls in all the states have had him leading. Current state polling and winner take all states gives him the nomination by the end of March.

The danger to rudy of Romney taking all 5 or 6 of the first 5 or 6 — and that is really possible — is that it could cause a tsunami overthrowing Rudi’s lead in those states to follow.

Based on current state primaries, Romney has the best chance to displace Rudy.

He is not my favorite, by a long shot, but we cannot tolerate a mobster in the White House. Rudy’s dad spent time in the Federal Pen for being a Mafia hit man. His uncle was even higher up. The Mob reportedly voted in favor of NOT going after Rudy.

Now there’s this thread yesterday that has Rudy saying nice things about Scotus Justice Ginsberg’s qualifications.

Rudy should not be the nominee, because his positions, skeletons, personal cruelties, and inexperience render him unelectable. Hillary is praying that Rudy be her opponent.

[George W. Bush]

He might even be supporting Huckabee secretly through back-channels.

Great strategery post, JCE. I've been thinking the same thing the last few weeks. No evidence, of course. But this is exactly how Rudi plays his divide-and-conquer game in NYC.

It's clear Rudi doesn't need the cash for himself as much as he needs to stop Mitt and Fred in the first three contests. And all Rudi would have to do is let his campaign handlers put out the word quietly about giving Huck just enough to blunt Mitt/Fred until the later primaries where Rudi will have his chance.

[1Old Pro]

Huckabee is Giuliani's ally of convenience. Huckabee could even be his VP.

Maybe Huckabee will choose rudy for his cabinent? Or Romney could chosse Rudy as his head of homeland security?

[southernindymom]

Ok, I have a question for any and everybody. Huckabee, from what I have seen on the shows and I don’t get to watch them often, as appeared to be conservative to me. Am I wrong? My husband and I have discussed this and he likes Romney, which he seems fine to me. Giuliani, while I think that he would be tough on the terror/national security front, I think he’s too liberal on social issues.
Which candidate is the most conservative on both social issues and traditional values? Being from Indiana, our primary isn’t until May, so the candidate will already be long decided before I ever get to vote. Can you guys help?

[juliej]

Somebody will want Huck as a running mate. That is almost a sure bet.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Huckabee is Giuliani's ally of convenience. Huckabee could even be his VP. That's an ugly, dispiriting thought.

Oh, come on. Baby Killer/Nanny Stater '08 baby! Get excited, get your checkbook out, clear your calendar:-)

The socon wing of the party will never vote for a baby killer and the libertarian wing won't support a tax raising, smoker banning, nanny stater. The result would be....