Huck-a-unbeatable? Shuster Says Mike Would Defeat Any Dem

Photo of Mark Finkelstein.
By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
December 26, 2007 - 08:55 ET

See Update at Foot: Matthews suggests MSM pushing Mike because he's a sure loser.

Should we call him Mike "Huck-a-unbeatable"?

As noted here, on Monday David Shuster predicted that Mike Huckabee would win the White House if matched up against Hillary Clinton. Appearing on Morning Joe today at 6:05 AM ET, the MSNBC correspondent took his optimism about Huckabee's prospects a quantum leap further, saying the former Arkansas governor would defeat any Dem opponent.

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Normally a panelist, Willie Geist is hosting the show today in Joe Scarborough's absence.

WILLIE GEIST: David Shuster, you made some waves on this very show on Monday when you predicted not only would Mike Huckabee win the Republican nomination, but if Hillary Clinton were his opponent in the general election, Mike Huckabee would be living in the White House next year.

DAVID SHUSTER: And I would go even further. And that is, if Mike Huckabee is the Republican nominee, he would be the next president regardless of who the Democratic nominee is.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI [incredulously]: What??

GEIST: Wow.

SHUSTER: And here's why: in Iowa they're discovering that Mike Huckabee is more personable, is more engaging, is more well-liked -- nevermind the experience stuff -- is more well-liked than the rest of the field combined. Luckily, voters are thinking about policies and positions, so that's going to be a factor, at least in Iowa.

But the fact of the matter is, if Mike Huckabee is in a general election against Edwards, against Obama, against Hillary, that race will turn into a personality contest and Mike Huckabee will win it hands-down. If the Republican nominee is somebody like John McCain, who's got a sort of an engaging personality but not like Huckabee, then it will be more of an election about policy differences and positions and about the issues.

So, as I wondered Monday, is Shuster speaking sincerely or is he trying to gull Republicans into nominating a vulnerable candidate? I'm tending to think Shuster means what he says -- but might well simply be mistaken. First, when it comes to likability, Obama is certainly no slouch. And any Dem campaign would be devoted to dismantling Huck's likability with a strategy blending the personal and political, along the lines "there's nothing likable about a man who would [fill in the policy position]."

Note: In contrast, Shuster is no Ron Paul fan, repeatedly labelling the libertarian a "crackpot," largely because of his view that Lincoln was wrong to wage the Civil War.

UPDATE | 12-26 10:10 AM ET: Appearing in a later segment, Chris Matthews suggested that Huckabee, far from being a sure winner, is being promoted by the MSM because they believe he'd be easy to beat.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: The establishment media has made him a mascot, and you know that, Willie. The liberal media guys who write for the New Yorker and magazines like that think that have treated him as cute -- and not very dangerous. And you gotta wonder whether it's all a conspiracy . . . and they want him because he's the sterotypical right-winger. You don't believe in evolution, you don't believe in abortion rights. You believe in guns to protect you from the government. This is whack-job. Hey, isn't it great? And then they get him nominated and then they get "anybody get beat Huckabee!"

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.


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}}---> Good question Mark

December 26, 2007 - 09:03 ET by Cool Arrow

But I think Huckabee would beat any of those three also.  The reservations against him are on the Republican side.

It's also possible the Republicans will bloody each other so badly that nobody looks good. 

So let's talk up this Evangelical/Mormon angle all we can.  Let's twist Romney and Huckabee's records beyond all recognition. 

I'm just dyin' to see the Breck Girl squealing like Ned Beatty for Ahmadinnerjacket while we watch our country die a slow death, aren't you? 

I ♣ My Seal

if Mike Huckabee is in a

December 26, 2007 - 09:31 ET by motherbelt

if Mike Huckabee is in a general election against Edwards, against Obama, against Hillary, that race will turn into a personality contest and Mike Huckabee will win it hands-down.

I wouldn't be too sure about that, even against HRC's high negatives. The Democrats have a tendency to bite the bullet and pull for whoever the Dem candidate is, even if they couldn't stand that person in the primaries. They are like dogs who always revert to the pack.

Republicans, on the other hand, are the ones who either go with a third-party candidate or stay home if they don't like the candidate for one reason or other.

}}---> Probably right MB

December 26, 2007 - 09:36 ET by Cool Arrow

Republicans have a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

That's how we got Bill Clinton, and maybe HRC too. 

I ♣ My Seal

If 3rd party candidate, another Clinton under 50%

December 26, 2007 - 12:09 ET by PawpawN

If any of the supposed 3rd party candidates-PAUL, BLOOMBERG, etc., do decide to run as such, we'll have another Clinton in the White House with less than 50% of the vote!!

That's for

December 26, 2007 - 14:26 ET by motherbelt

That's for sure,PawPaw...that's why I really hope Republicans rally behind whoever the candidate is....because IMO, the alternative is unthinkable!

Fiscal Conservatives will NOT rally around the Huckster

December 26, 2007 - 19:19 ET by PopularTech

Sorry but the evangelicals can try to win without the fiscal conservatives if Huckabee gets the nomination and I'm not voting for McAmnesty either. Any candidate stupid enough to think we need to fight global warming has no business being the president.

Huckabee: Get Rid of Gitmo (Video)

The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource

Ron Paul and Bloomberg will have no effect

December 26, 2007 - 19:22 ET by PopularTech

Ron Paul can run 3rd party and his 4% of independent conservative/libertarians are not going to swing the election. Bloomberg would pull as many liberal moderates from the Democrats as he would independent conservatives. I believe they are both a non-issue.

Huckabee: Get Rid of Gitmo
The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource

Take a Look

December 26, 2007 - 09:57 ET by OldSailor88

Is it my imagination, or does Huck look like Gomer Pyle in the header photo?

Don't know about the rest of you, but Huck won't get this Republican's vote.

OldSailor...

December 26, 2007 - 12:29 ET by Clear thinker

Nor mine!

I won't be voting for any of the RINO's in this, or any other elections. Time to go back to core principles in choosing a candidate. 

Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/ 

This Iowa Boy ain't voting for him

December 26, 2007 - 10:40 ET by Iowa Boy

Huck Finn stands a better chance of getting the nomination than Mike Huckabee. Now that the bright lights have been shining on him, his record is getting the latex glove examination is should have gotten before. Come next Thursday, I believe he's gonna do a Howard Dean Part II.

Though can I say something here? This'll be my whatever number caucus since I first voted in 1980. I'm telling you right now. I can't wait to get 'em all the hell outta my front lawn. You Super Tuesday'ers are lucky. You only get them for a couple of weeks. We've had them for over a year and I'm tired.

Iowa Boy

December 26, 2007 - 11:30 ET by Blonde

I never thought of it that way...funny.

Guess what, we're tired of the Iowa thing too. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Nominate Huckabee and Fiscal Conservatives Walk

December 26, 2007 - 11:09 ET by PopularTech

I do not think evangelicals comprehend this. This is real simple if Huckabee gets nominated Fiscal Conservatives will walk as well as those who support a strong Foreign policy and military. Huckabee is getting all the evangelical support nothing more. I will never vote for Huckabee and that is a promise. Everyone I talk to feels the same way and will either not vote or vote third party. The GOP better hope someone takes him out in the primaries because I do not even want this Jimmy Carter liberal as VP.

Huckabee on Taxes (Video) (1min)
Ann Coulter: “Huckabee is the Republican Jimmy Carter” (Video) (4min)
Ann Coulter: "Huckabee Stupid and easily led" (Video) (2min)

Fiscal Record:

A Taxing Endeavor (National Review Online)
Huckabee's Fiscal Record (FactCheck.org)
Huckabee: The Biggest Big-Government Conservative (FOXNews)
Mike Huckabee is a Liberal - Updated Huckabee White Paper (Club for Growth)

- Immediately upon taking office he signed a sales tax hike in 1996
- He raised taxes on gasoline in 1999
- He supported an internet sales tax in 2001
- He created a $5.25 per day bed-tax on private nursing home patients in 2001
- He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002
- He proposed another sales take hike in 2002 to fund education improvements
- He raised taxes on cigarettes in 2003
- He opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003
- He allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law in 2004
- He increased taxes in the state by more than Bill Clinton did
- He increased state spending 65.3% from 1996 to 2004
- The number of state government workers rose 20% during his tenure
- Governor Huckabee refused to pledge not to raise taxes if elected President

Tax Hike Mike

- Overall, Huckabee’s substantial tax hikes far surpassed his modest tax
cuts, with the average tax burden increasing by a whopping 47% over his
tenure.

Huckabee: Get Rid of Gitmo

The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource

Is Matthews suggesting that

December 26, 2007 - 12:00 ET by Chris Norman

Is Matthews actually suggesting that there's a vast left wing media conspiracy to secure the nomination for Huckabee? Can you imagine the hoots if a conservative went on TV and suggested that?

Mark: re your update on Matthews' Huckabee prediction

December 26, 2007 - 15:17 ET by RJ

First Matthews was "for Huckabee's chances before he was against Huckabee's chances?"

And Matthews is the one who also said today that he's "conservative in his gut, but liberal because he thinks things through."    Yup, and sways with the latest breeze. 

Obviously, Chrissy, you have no firm beliefs.  You're a wind-sock puppet.

I say what Rush said

December 26, 2007 - 23:57 ET by sentforth5

Who is this Huckabee guy, anyway? Who ever heard of him before this primary run?

I'll say this...a vote for Mike Huckabee is not Biblically sound in my humble opinion.

What?

December 28, 2007 - 11:51 ET by compman

"...is Shuster speaking sincerely or is he trying to gull Republicans into nominating a vulnerable candidate? I'm tending to think Shuster means what he says -- but might well simply be mistaken."

With all due respect, Mark... I think you may have too much eggnog. This guy would never push a Republican that he thought could win. Shuster is 100% Democrat and is most assuredly trying to bait Repubs into voting for a losing ticket.

As someone else has stated on the comments section before "Never, Never, Never trust a liberal".

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. - Sir Winston Churchill