I turned on the television to CNN this week and discovered that Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is leading in Iowa among Republican voters. Various polls show him leading with a significant margin:

1. ❖According to Fox News, a Newsweek poll shows Huckabee with 39% support over Romney with 17%
   

2. ❖A recent Des Moines Register poll shows Huckabee at 29% with Romney at 24%
   

3. ❖The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the Iowa caucus finds Huckabee with 39% of the vote, Romney with 23% support, and everyone else in single digits.
   

Above is a photo of Mike Huckabee serving our table pizza at a meeting I attended in North Liberty, Iowa earlier this year. Here is an excerpt from my report on that meeting:

Democrat James Carville, who is respected among liberals, had this to say about Huckabee, “He likes people, he knows how to relate to people. ... He can talk the talk. I'm impressed with this guy's political skills.” [ Source: The First Post ] This seems like unexpected praise coming from someone such as James Carville -- considering that Huckabee is a Republican.

Huckabee is not a moderate, and he doesn’t gain the respect of liberals by telling them what they want to hear. He gains their respect by having a likable personality, good sense of humor, and a competent track record as Governor in achieving economic renewal and effectively responding to social needs like health care and education (what Huckabee calls National Security issues). For example, Huckabee left Arkansas with a 1 billion dollar budget surplus. [ Source: Arkansas News Bureau ]

One of the first opportunities I had to hear Mike Huckabee speak was on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. [ Video ] I was really impressed with the way Huckabee presented himself and his views. He had a lively exchange with Jon Stewart and the crowd seemed genuinely responsive to what he had to say. Huckabee discussed the most recent book he has written, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Stops to Restoring America’s Greatness. [ View all books by Huckabee ] In response to the book, Jon Stewart said, “What I find fascinating [is that] you are a self described conservative evangelical Republican, which strikes fear into the heart of the blue state foundation. Yet, I read this book... It could be written by, not necessarily a Socialist, but it’s pretty liberal. It speaks of healthy lifestyle, and government’s responsibility in clean air and water and environment.” To this Huckabee responded, “I’m a conservative, but I’m not mad at everybody over it. ... I’m pro-life. I think that life begins at conception, but I don’t think it ends at birth. We have to be concerned about a child’s education, healthcare, safe neighborhoods, clean water, the access to a college education. That is pro-life. To care about a child’s entire life.”

In a more recent broadcast of the Daily Show (August 22), Jon Stewart asked Barack Obama, “Is there a Republican in the field [of presidential candidates] who you admire that you think would do a good job?” Obama responded, “I think there are guys like Huckabee who are sincere and decent.”

Please click here to learn more about Mike Huckabee.