Oh, and just wait for the Dems to trot out the class warfare argument against Guv Goodhair, he of the $200+ million net worth. That doesn't bother ME, but the Socialists drool to face a guy like that.
Further, the guy has flip-flopped so much that the Dems will destroy him on it (and the Stupid Party won't touch Her Shrillness on her own flip-flops, of which there are many).
To win, IMHO, the Republicans need to nominate a real conservative, so as to mobilize and motivate the base. Failure to do that for ANY party in ANY place is electoral death. Fred could and would appeal to a lot of moderates/fence sitters because his stances on the issues and his demeanor will remind them of Reagan (with good reason - the 2 are similar in many ways). Thompson has the good fortune to be able to say "Look at the 1980's - this stuff WORKS."
McStain? What's he going to say, "Vote for me, I didn't get indicted for the Keating 5 scandal?" Vote for me, my fondest wish of open gates and amnesty for illegals didn't get passed?"
Huckabee? Yeah, that's it, Gomer Pyle for President. Poll Dems, and you'll find that their favorite Republican candidate is this guy (well, Ron Paul, but he's going to the nut house way before he's going to get the nomination). All Huckster is doing is splitting the evangelicals from the base, saying "me or nobody," and for that he should be defeated ASAP.
Rudy? He'll split the base as badly as anyone.
Yeah, any of them would be better than any of the Dems. But other than Fred, with the Republicans in this field we're between Hell and high water.
Fred has the right stances but not the leadership that people are looking for.
He's run his campaign almost exclusively on the war and spending. Conservatives can rally around those two, plus he's okay on guns and life.
Huckabee? Yeah, that's it
Say what you will, but Huck's solid on God, gays, guns, and abortion. He's also been attacking the Nanny State.... even though he proposed a national smoking ban. Yeah, he's a funny one.