Stalking Horse: When Does Huck Endorse Rudy?

Actually, based upon several transcripts, Mike Huckabee already has endorsed Rudy Giuliani time and again - those below. As I first suggested back in November, Huck may be a stalking horse for Rudy and the evidence continues to mount. If you want background on what a stalking horse is in politics, see here.

For starters check out two MSM headlines: Huckabee Hearts Rudy and NBC Rudy Hearts Huckabee - and note that pre-Huckabee, the media's obsession was Rudy's perceived scandals. That's old news now, Huckabee is working mainly in two key Romney states - Iowa and SC - and even with his national numbers rising, Rudy is still giving him a pass. Maybe Rudy knows something we don't - that the youngest challenger in the primary, Huckabee, doesn't plan on being around at the end? Well, perhaps not at the top of the ticket, anyway.

The religious but liberal former Arkansas Governor has consistently defended Rudy while attacking Romney every chance he's had.

ABC’s This Week, Dec. 2, 2007:  During an interview on ABC’s This Week, Mike Huckabee defended Giuliani:

“I thought it was a cheap-shot at Rudy,” Mr. Huckabee declared. “There’s no point in trying to dig through what his security detail did, unless they can specifically say that he personally ordered something.”

“I know how it works in the security detail of a governor. Governors don't specifically say, ‘OK, here's how I want you to budget that.' Governors pretty much just take care of their business, and the security detail manages the manner in which they handle the security. And I thought it's a little bit of a stretch to go after Rudy for how his security detail accounted for their finances.”

Huckabee also avoided several opportunities to criticize Giuliani and Romney even as host George Stephanopoulos read other candidates' criticisms of the former governor. (Politico, 12/2)

YouTube Debate, Nov 28:

On the Bible, minister and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee let former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani off the hook, agreeing with Giuliani that parts of the Bible are allegorical. (Bill Schneider, CNN, 11/28)

Tongue in cheek, Huckabee even offered Rudy help on whether each word of the Bible is literally true. (Howard Fineman, Newsweek, 11/29)

He even offered a hand to Mr Giuliani, who appeared to still be shell-shocked after his exchange with Mr Romney when he was confronted by an apocalyptic youth holding up a bible and demanding to know: “Do you believe every word of this book?”As the former New York mayor hesitated, Mr Huckabee stepped in and asked: “Do I need to help you out, mayor, on this one?” (The Telegraph, 11/30)

NY Sun, Nov. 27: Giuliani, Huckabee Emerge as Strange GOP Bedfellows

“I think Mitt was the one who went after Rudy more than Rudy went after Mitt,” Mr. Huckabee told reporters in a conference call, when asked for his thoughts on the dispute that has played out in New Hampshire in recent days.

“Mitt's going to learn the hard way that if you go after Rudy, you better be prepared to take one upside the head, because Rudy's an experienced fighter and knows how to do it. Mitt may have jumped into the cage with a guy that knows not only how to take a punch but to deliver one back.”

Hardball, Nov 9:

Chris Matthews: "What do you think about Giuliani-Huckabee as a ticket?"

Huckabee: “Hey, how about Huckabee-Giuliani? But hey, just in case I have a shot, let me find a way to praise Rudy...hmmm, okay, how's this: I appreciate that he tells you exactly where he stands on things.”

The Swamp:

Rudy Giuliani, the front-running Republican candidate for president, says one of his rivals "makes me laugh." And that same rival is saying nice things about Giuliani today.

Scroll: Situation Room, Oct 30:

Blitzer: "So Rudy Giuliani is the only Republican presidential candidate who supports abortion rights for women. Is he participating in a holocaust?''

Huckabee: "No, and I think Rudy would be the first to tell you that he doesn't support abortion. He just believes that it ought to be legal. He and I disagree with that, in the sense he believes we ought to accommodate that viewpoint...''

Blitzer: "But in effect what you're saying is he wants -- at least a holocaust to be made legal, which is abortion from your perspective.''

Huckabee: "He at least says he wants to see abortions reduced and move more toward adoption. And I appreciate that in him. I hope we can keep working on Rudy and get him to a full pro-life convert before it's over.''

In fact, as far back as April on Face the Nation, Huckabee was taking shots at Romney while praising Rudy. If they weren't competitors, you might think Huckabee is Rudy's biggest fan. But then, maybe he is.

Huckabee Takes A Shot At Romney's Hunting

“Now, I disagree with him. I don’t think we ought to use federal tax dollars for abortion, and I wouldn’t if I were president,” Huckabee said.

“But I thought it was at least a statement of extraordinary honesty and candor on the part of Giuliani that he would go into South Carolina, a very pro-life environment, and just say, look, this is who I am. I’m not going to change just to get your votes,” he said.

Comments

[seekeronos]

For some strange reason, I've seen this coming.

I didn't want to out and say it - but I honestly believe now that there is a gentleman's agreement between Gov. Huckabee and former Mayor Giuliani.

One that may extend beyond the mere mutual back-scratching in the debates and conduct of the campaign (especially against Romney, who despite my wishes is making quite the strong showing, and stands to carry NH at the very least, if not IA by way of chipping away at Huckabee's noteworthy lead in the polls).

I think that a potential Huckabee-Giuliani or Giuliani-Huckabee nomination just might be in the cards - H. to sucker in the Christians who would otherwise default their non-votes to Hillary, and G. to sucker in the social liberals and secularists who find the idea of voting for a Christian preacher detestable.

A risky bet too - as the only unifying thread between these two that stands out is their nanny-statism (though applications might differ somewhat). The one shaky thing here is - will Rudy G. play second banana to Huckabee, or will Rudy the Ruthless discard the Huckster like so much electoral flotsam, after Huck foils Romney in the early primary states (polls consistently showing Rudy leading the Super-Tuesday states)?

I have my doubts that this will be a pleasant "marriage" (as if Rudy needed another) by any means.

[Giuliani 2008]

Cross posted at -

http://giuliani2008-blogger.blogspot.com

Giuliani 2008

[Jay]

God help us if this turns out true.

[JP]

I would prefer a Thompson/Hunter ticket. That would be the "best of both worlds". To me they both epitomize everything Republican, and together they would offer intelligence, reassurance and experience-without closets full of skeletons.

[seekeronos]

"--- I would prefer a Thompson/Hunter ticket. That would be the "best of both worlds". To me they both epitomize everything Republican, and together they would offer intelligence, reassurance and experience-without closets full of skeletons. ---"

I'll tell you what... that would be the dream ticket for the true conservative wing of the seemingly Leftpublican Party Trio that seem to have the top tier all locked up.

Sadly, with Fred's numbers flagging and looking like they will dip under the MOE - and placing him into the Basement of Irrelevancy where Tom "No-Show" Tancredo, Duncan "the Percentage Point" Hunter, and Ron "the Truther is Outta There" Paul, it may not even make a difference at this point.

It might be safe to say that Fred has blown his opportunity that he had in the summer, had he announced then. But contract deals are contract deals; and even with his Labour Day announcement, he could have made a much stronger showing. If only we FredHeads had the insane devotion that the PaulBots have for their lost cause...

This is deeply discouraging in that the party has been hijacked by a trio of faux-"conservatives" who are about as liberal in practice as any of the Democratic candidates.

If any of those muldoons (Mitt/Huck/Rudy) get the nom... the GOP is finished as the party of the Right. At that point, it might as well as just fold in under the Democratic Party and call it a night.