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Brody File Analysis: Evangelical Food Fight: Mike Huckabee vs. Ted Cruz
CBN's The Brody File ^ | May 6, 2015 | David Brody, chief political correspondent

Posted on 05/06/2015 12:19:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Mike Huckabee is not the evangelical candidate. Oh sure, he’ll get a hefty amount of the evangelical vote even though there is a much more competitive field this time around. But if you think he’s a one-trick pony then you miss the larger story. The easy media narrative will be that Huckabee must appeal to evangelicals to do well. And there’s no denying that will be a part of his potential winning equation. But what Huckabee has that no other candidate possesses is an, “aw shucks,” bless your heart, southern charm. That will play well in the heartland of this country. It will play well with those “Reagan Democrats.” His populist, flag waving overtones and exceptional communication skills set him up as a candidate that can definitely win the nomination. What he really needs is the mother’s milk of politics: money. It was the famous philosopher Jerry Maguire who famously yelled, “Show me the money.” Well, Huckabee better start yelling.

As for the evangelical aspect, Huckabee and Ted Cruz are taking two totally different approaches. Huckabee is making sure (just like in 2008) that evangelicals know that he is actually one of them. He’s the ex-pastor who will be the one to show up at the Sunday church pot lot with the chicken casserole. He’s the regular guy at the Tuesday night Bible study. Ted Cruz is taking more of an intellectual, clinical approach. When you watch him in front of evangelical crowds, he says a lot of the same things as Huckabee but his method is different. He’s making the argument that he has fought issues near and dear to the hearts of evangelicals (marriage, religious liberty, abortion) in the courts, arguing these type cases for a living. Put more simply, Mike Huckabee is saying to evangelicals that he’s fighting the culture wars at Chick fil-A along with the people while Ted Cruz is saying he’s fighting for the people in front of judges. Both are equally compelling.

So who has the advantage between Cruz and Huckabee? Well, look; you have to give the nod to Huckabee at this point for two reasons. First of all, his likeability is through the roof and he’s been through the rigors of a presidential campaign before. He’s been vetted. Oh, and this small thing: He’s won Iowa before! That counts for something doesn’t it? As for Cruz, while he has a passionate following, he hasn’t been fully vetted by the media so he has more potential potholes ahead. Also, Cruz (rightly or wrongly) has been saddled with a reputation that he doesn’t compromise and is looked upon (fairly or unfairly) as someone who is a bit more of an angry conservative. Huckabee has a reputation as a happy warrior. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. Maybe evangelical voters are in the mood for some new blood and the “fire and brimstone” approach of Cruz. Or will they look at Huckabee and simply say, “bless his heart, I’ll vote for him again.”


TOPICS: Arkansas; Iowa; Kentucky; Texas; Campaign News; Issues; Parties
KEYWORDS: 2016election; arkansas; cruz; election2016; elmergantry; evangelicals; huckabee; huckster; mikehuckabee; paultardation; paultardnoisemachine; randpaulnoisemachine; randsconcerntrolls; tedcruz; texas
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To: Nervous Tick

I envy you having met Cruz. Huckabee reminds me of an Elmer Gantry, snake oil salesman and I’m not in the market for what he’s selling.


21 posted on 05/06/2015 2:23:52 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It will be a draw. 50-50.


22 posted on 05/06/2015 2:30:48 PM PDT by entropy12 (I hope senator Cruz is lot less abrasive and snide than some of his supporter FRiends.)
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To: Nervous Tick
Huckabee is a poseur. He *uses* his faith as political currency. I find that disgusting.
There isn't a computer font large enough or bold enough that I could use to express my AMEN to your sentiment. It's tragic that Huckabee will deceive some good Christians and entice them to throw away their votes on a political fraud.
23 posted on 05/06/2015 4:51:13 PM PDT by Unmarked Package (Cruz to Victory 2016)
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To: entropy12
It will be a draw. 50-50.

Entropic doom.

24 posted on 05/06/2015 6:09:39 PM PDT by aposiopetic
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Evangelicals were fooled by Southern Preacher Charm and praises like “ PRAISE THE LORD “ with Jimmy and Tammy Baker.

Old Jimmy Swagart has that good old Southern Preacher Charm down pat also.

Huckebee knows how to strike all the right cords in a hymm to get the gullible sheeple to follow the grand master of snake oil.

Didn’t Burt Lancaster make a movie about a preacher like this.


25 posted on 05/06/2015 8:06:16 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist (BeThe Keystone Pipe lik ProjectR : build it already Congre)
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To: diverteach

That’s the problem with those who are gullible who are blindly following someone , they can’t be convinced no matter how much you try and talk to them until you are blue in the face.

Your pastor father needs to convince him self or for God to intervien.

Does your father give you good reasons why he’s for Shyster Huckebee and not for Ted Cruz ?

Does give you reasons why he is not supporting Ted Cruz.

Is your father aware that Ted Cruz is a born again Evangelical Christian ? That Ted Cruz’s father is a preacher ?

Keep praying that God would open your father’s eyes.


26 posted on 05/06/2015 8:23:16 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist (BeThe Keystone Pipe lik ProjectR : build it already Congre)
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To: aposiopetic

Realopotic!


27 posted on 05/06/2015 8:28:14 PM PDT by entropy12 (I hope senator Cruz is lot less abrasive and snide than some of his supporter FRiends.)
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To: re_nortex

The author is confusing “pandering” with Southern charm.


28 posted on 05/07/2015 10:31:03 AM PDT by duffee (Dump the Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, joe nosef.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I say neither one is doing that great. 5th and 6th place, respectively, for Cruz and Huckabee. Neither is cracking 10%. It seems unlikely that either will be the nominee. Bush, Rubio, Walker and Rand are in double digits. They look like the front runners to me.

Everyone else is noise.

Bush Rubio Walker Paul Cruz Huckabee Christie Carson Perry Kasich Santorum Graham Jindal Fiorina Spread
RCP Average 4/16 - 4/30 15.5 14.3 12.3 10.0 8.8 7.5 5.5 5.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 Bush +1.2

29 posted on 05/07/2015 11:40:00 AM PDT by Jack Black ( Disarmament of a targeted group is one of the surest early warning signs of future genocide.)
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To: Jack Black

Who lead the polls at this point in 2007 or 2011?


30 posted on 05/07/2015 11:44:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: re_nortex

I’m at puke with the “aw shucks” group.

This is WAR .. and when you’re at WAR .. you need a WARRIOR .. not somebody who will bring a casserole to the next pot-luck; and play his guitar.

The “aw shucks” will not make it in a WAR.


31 posted on 05/09/2015 6:08:15 PM PDT by CyberAnt ("The hour has arrived to gather the Harvest")
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To: Jewbacca

Yes, it is.


32 posted on 05/09/2015 6:09:45 PM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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