Frontrunners Get Passed Up in Latest Iowa Poll

Posted on December 2, 2007

Update: As Mike’s popularity rises, we need to take a look at his positions. I mention several below I disagree with. Here is a video (thanks to Johnny $) where he talks on the war. An issue where I agree with his stance.

Hey? What happened to the inevitability of it all coming down to Rudy vs. Hillary? Both frontrunners get passed up in Iowa. Hopefully a sign that people are waking up. Things get turned around. Or as Blue Crab Boulevard puts it, the world turned upside down. Well, at least Iowa has. The latest Iowa polls puts Huckabee ahead of Giuliani and Obama ahead of Hillary. If this trend were to continue, personally I would find it a much more interesting race.

Huckabee wins the support of 29 percent of Iowans who say they definitely or probably will attend the Republican Party’s caucuses on Jan. 3. That’s a gain of 17 percentage points since the last Iowa Poll was taken in early October, when Huckabee trailed both Romney and Fred Thompson.

Other poll findings indicate that the former Arkansas governor is making the most of a low-budget campaign by tapping into the support of Iowa’s social conservatives.

Romney, who has invested more time and money campaigning in the state than any other GOP candidate, remains in the thick of the Iowa race with the backing of 24 percent of likely caucusgoers. But that’s a drop of 5 points since October for the former Massachusetts governor.

(Obama story) Despite the movement, the race for 2008’s opening nominating contest remains very competitive about a month before the Jan. 3 caucuses, just over half of likely caucusgoers who favor a candidate saying they could change their minds.

Obama, an Illinois senator, leads for the first time in the Register’s poll as the choice of 28 percent of likely caucusgoers, up from 22 percent in October. Clinton, a New York senator, was the preferred candidate of 25 percent, down from 29 percent in the previous poll.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who led in the Register’s May poll, held steady with 23 percent, in third place, but part of the three-way battle.

Michael Van der GaliÃ«n

Huckabee is going to be the surprise these elections, as may Obama.

Indeed, this could turn out to be an election of upsets. One thing is for sure, its just now getting interesting.

Also, Dan Riehl points out how the process works, and that even if the percentages stay with the current polls, its still very unpredictable in Iowa.

More analysis at Hot Air
Macsmind

Sidenote Update: While its exciting to me to see Rudy passed up, most readers of this blog know my apprehensions with Huckabee. Three major issues make me uncomfortable with Huckabee. His history on raising taxes, and his willingness for nannystate government programs like smoking bans, and how soft he is on the border issue. It would probably be accurate to say he would be another George Bush without the tax cuts. The question remains…is that better than Hillary or Rudy. Short answer…yes. Is he the best candidate out of the choices we have…no. If he becomes the nominee will I get behind him to beat a Hillary or Obama. Most definitely, but we haven’t gotten that far yet. At this point, especially in light of rising popularity, people need to take a look at Mike Huckabee’s record and decide if this is who they want. A good start is here. (thanks to reader Gull for the link.)

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2 Responses to “Frontrunners Get Passed Up in Latest Iowa Poll”

Gull on December 2nd, 2007 12:13 pm

IMO — Mitt needs to take off the gloves.

It’s understandable that Rudy et al are allowing supporters to go for the Huckster because they have little chance of catching Mitt in Iowa.

Lamestream media and others don’t want us to focus too closely on the affable, preacher-man, either.

Huckster’s actual record and background deserves a look. Start with http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/11/13/huckabee/ and follow it up with the real bill he proposed for providing educational services for illegals.

We don’t need another “me-me” man from Hope with a history that is comparable to the former’s.

The real coup will be if Obama can actually win over Her Thighness!
WhyWhyWicki on December 3rd, 2007 12:15 am

Gov. Mike Hisabee is a classic war-coward and immigrant-lover.