The Huckster is more responsible for the nomination of McCain than anyone. He came from nowhere out of Iowa with a head of steam that took all the more conservative candidates out, leaving McCain. I am not saying the Huckster was not a good candidate, but, the perception was that he was a clown and not a serious presidential candidate, more a Pat Paulson than a Lincoln.
“I am not saying the Huckster was not a good candidate,”
That’s okay, I’m saying the Huckster was not a good candidate! :0)
From the exit polls in the primaries, when asked who they would have voted for had Huckabee not been in the race, the vast majority responded with McCain. This does not support the “stalking horse for McCain” theory. I was 100% for Fred, but I don’t think he could have parlayed a SC win into enough to stop McCain this year. The aisle-crosser got too much momentum from the open primaries.