Like Wilburforce, Huckabee has core commitments to issues that are moral imperatives – pro-life and God's definition of marriage.  Like Eric Little, he will honor those commitments regardless of pressure from elites about a supposedly greater cause.  

And I'm excited because God has promised to honor men who place him first. I have seen Him do it in my life and the lives of others.  But it is especially exciting to see God put men like Wilburforce, Little and Huckabee in a highly public crucible and see the highly public results when God glorifies himself through them.

However , Fred dropped out right before the Florida primary and I found myself watching the Republican debates in Florida. I was very surprised by Huckabee's performance, despite having read one of his books on legacy a few years back. He handled himself VERY Well and earned my primary vote that night.

And while the Christian issue may have fallen by the wayside for many media people, Tim Russert did bring it up and I thought Huckabee gave about as perfect a response as can be given to that question – proving himself to be not only a Christian, but one with sound theology and understanding of the roraing lambs concept, for lack of a better phrase.

It'll be interesting to see how things play out in the next few weeks.

For those of us who are English/Theatre majors, while studying for our degrees, we learned about Horatio stories – someone is poor but rises up and becomes part of the wealthy or is the underdog and wins – I firmly believe that we are witnessing yet another one.

I blog on Mike's website daily and I have read several blogs where people are so dismayed with the way the GOP is behaving that some have even opted out of the party altogether.

Mike brings back that breath of hope we have all been holding in, just waiting in anticipation, wondering, "will someone come along that is true to there word. Someone that we can trust?"

We are now exhaling with excitement because we believe that we finally have a "candidate we can trust." That seems like such an odd thing to say in the 21st century in relation to politics, however, that is the consensus of those of us that are supporting Mike with everything we have.

I have read stories of people giving up Valentine day dinners, movies, family night out gatherings, eating out, cutting back on things they don't need, you name it they are giving it up so they can then donate that money to what they consider "a better cause" – Mike Huckabee.

I also hear stories from people who have never been actively involved in politics before and they are donating, fund raising, making calls, you name it, they are doing it. Even this girl here, (me) who hates cold calling, has made calls on behalf of Mike and raised almost $1,000.00 for him (my second least favorite thing to do).

There is this quote that I love that really sums up Mike Huckabee and his supporters in a nut shell.

“The true test of a leader is whether his followers will adhere to his cause from their own volition, enduring the most arduous hardships without being forced to do so, and remaining steadfast in the moments of greatest peril.”

Remaining Steadfast,

Dominique

I just had a light bulb go off.

When Mike wins – you could produce a movie about the underdog who won the office of the President of the United States. 

You could call it…..LONG SHOT!…..or….AGAINST ALL ODDS…or….FAITH BRANDING DONE RIGHT!!!  LOL

:_)

Remaining Steadfast,

Dominique 

 http://mattshultz.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/an-open-letter-to-gov-mike-huckabee/

This is an excellent analysis of why Huckabee's "candidacy is a excellent lesson for any underdog" – especially considering the 21st C. media elements.

America has some great "underdog" movies, both fictional and based on true stories - even as far back as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and as recent as "Miracle" and "Invincible."  BTW, if you want to see what the 70s recession was really like, watch "Invincible" and "Miracle."

The other element of Huckabee that you could add here, is that the strengths that you've listed all work together with a synergy that's rarely seen.  For example, the "booking operation" (#3) wouldn't be advantageous without Huckabee's ability to connect with any audience, big or small, (#1).  Similarly, #4 (nothing to lose) is really about the fact that Huckabee is continuously operates from his strength, not his weakness (as is in your examples of the other candidates).  "Risking it all" means putting yourself - all of you – on the line – and you can't do that unless you're completely transparent, and to do that, you have to be, like Huckabee, "comfortable in your own skin."

Finally, I agree that he has an incredibly strong asset in #6, because all of the other 5 strengths would become discounted if he did anything other than speak calmly and intellingently about his faith, without trying to "be in your face" about it.  Why does that resonate with me?  Because I'm not evangelical, and actually I'm so barely Christian that most Christians would rather not allow me to share "their label."  And, I live my spiritual life like Mike Huckabee does his – speaking intelligently about it when asked, but not making it a confrontational element of every issue.  Rather, as a positive, optimistic, "New Age" type of spiritualist with very open Biblical foundations, I choose to simply living my spirituality, and speak to others intelligently and kindly about it.

All the Best, Theresa

I'm tired of voting for clowns.  If the Republican Party keeps raking political hacks out of the middens, they're going to have to do without my vote.  I'm a conservative.

  The Republican party has been ignoring conservatives for some time.  Sooner or later, we'll ignore their whiny pleas to vote along party lines without regard to conscience or good sense. 

It's getting old.

In all honesty, and I have even blogged about this some weeks past on Mike's blog, the Lord had impressed on me similarly to what you have said about Mike's preparation for this election by his past, as a pastor, leader, etc.  Well, the Lord impressed on me that this has also been preparation to be President, as David was prepared to be king first by being a shepherd (pastors are shepherds that tend the flock), then by being a warrior (Mike has endured many battles as Governor of a Democratic legislature for over 10 years, and now this battle).  David also had many followers who were discouraged, in debt, and distressed with the current governing system, and so they, too, the mighty men (& women) of valor were raised up to support David and it only started as 400 of them!  Not to mention the current system of that time was trying to defeat and overcome David, at first it looked like David had little support and looked like this promise of being king was unprobable… but, we know (readers of the Bible) that the opposite was in fact true.  That God was preparing David through these tests and trials as well as he was preparing the people of Israel to have a genuine and Godly king reign over them!  You must admit, sounds strikingly familiar.  It impresses me even greater the more that I think about it.  If it be God's will, it shall come to pass in the Lord's way and timing, despite all the odds! 

Blessings, Shannon