Huckabee struggles to draw Christian right

Financial Times Online ^

[Def Conservative]

Republican evangelical voters who went to the polls in South Carolina on Saturday voted for Mike Huckabee, but the former Baptist minister did not win the Christian conservative vote by a wide margin.

The results, some analysts said, showed that the Christian right is not as unified as it once was. Exit polls show that among nearly 60 per cent of South Carolina Republicans who identify themselves as born-again Christians or evangelicals, Mr Huckabee won support from four out of 10 voters, and was largely unable to expand his appeal to other conservative and moderate voters beyond his religious base.

Still, the power of evangelical voters, who helped propel George W. Bush’s White House run in 2000, should not be underestimated. Mr Huckabee and his grassroots supporters could still emerge as a powerful ally if he were to emerge as a vice-presidential candidate alongside a more moderate Republican nominee such as Mr McCain.

[Def Conservative]

Moderate-mania!!!!

[Sybeck1]

Wow, so us must vote for the God commanded candidate? Huckabee is using religion for political gain IMO.

[MrEdd]

Huckabee struggles to draw Christian right

Maybe trying to abscond with 70,000 worth of furniture from the Arkansas governor's mansion was a bad idea then.

[donnab]

Huck struggles to tell the truth.

[Grig]

Live by identity politics, die by identity politics.

[SoConPubbie]

Huckabee is using religion for political gain IMO

Exacto Mundo!

We have a winner!

And Jesus had some real choice words for hypocrites such as this who would use Christ's name for their own gain.

This is the one reason Huckabee will never get my vote in either the primary or general elections.

[GregoTX]

"...but the former Baptist minister did not win the Christian conservative vote by a wide margin."

They key word here is conservative. Being a Baptist Minister isnt enough, otherwise the Christian Right would have voted for Jesse Jackson. The man isnt a Conservative.

Maybe all those prisoners he gave clemency to will volunteer to help with his campaign.

[Def Conservative]

Exactly. I expect sleaze from a politician but from a man who calls himself a pastor...well, that just makes it worse.

[Vigilanteman]

Hillary thinks she is entitled to the female vote because she has a vagina. The Huckster thinks he's entitled to the evangelical vote because he's a LIEBERAL Baptist preacher. Illegal aliens think they are entitled to colonize the country because they managed to sneak over the border. Hillary and the Huckster agree.

That's not all they agree upon.

[Maelstorm]

Surprise, surprise, not all of us Baptists are brainwashed and so Jesus hungry that all one has to do is go preacher on us to get our vote. I personally have a big problem with his pardons of 1000+ criminals including violent felons, murderers, and rapists. When anyone mentions Huckabee I tell them about that and the fact he talks like a classwarfare democrat. Hardly a Christian position to sow envy. If I remember correctly that runs contrary to one of the commandments as does misleading people about your own record and the record of your competitors.

Don’t forget to spread the word and help Lois Davidson get justice:
www.victimsvoice527.com
No one deserves to die because of a Jesus loving politician.

[egginanest]

I’m guessing he took the younger members of that demographic.
His antics appeal to them and his statements elude any products of our public school system since 1980...

I know, I’ve raised three of them and was forced to school them MYSELF in the areas of American History, Government and Social Studies.

[HokieMom]

The truth is now getting out about Huckabee’s liberal record which explains why his support from Christian conservatives is dropping. I believe the vast majority of Christian conservatives will be fractured now during the primary but will coalesce in the fall to beat Hillary.

[sweet_diane]

Saw this quote at fred08.com today.

"What profit it a man to gain a vote but lose his soul?"

[Def Conservative]

great quote ;)

[gpapa]

McCain and Huckabee?? No way!!

[longtermmemmory]

Christians DO unify.

Huckabee is just a “hands on the TV” huckster.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

This is another good reason for Fred to stay in the race, maybe those evangelicals are finally waking up.
Another reason for Fred to stay in is because the Huckabee campaign is running low on money... FRED ? DO NOT GIVE UP !!

[cowdog77]

Still, the power of evangelical voters, who helped propel George W. Bush’s White House run in 2000....”
____________________________
Once burned, twice shy.

[norge]

The last two Southern Baptists who became President were Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Ping!