Thoughts on an Iowa Straw Poll experience

Overall - I was truly fascinated by the Iowa Straw Poll- the effort made by over 14,000 Iowa Republicans to brave the 102 degree heat index, sit through speeches by all the candidates (some very boring), and shamelessly stuff themselves silly at the expense of those who expect nothing more from them than a check mark next to their name in over a year. It wasn't a lack of enthusiasm

Mike Huckabee - Huckabee truly WAS the guy to see. Coming in second place, Iowans were right to punish Giuliani, Thompson, and McCain by giving their votes elsewhere. Huckabee, the dark horse, came out with likely one of the least expensive displays (Sam Brownback's air conditioned tent was $30,000 alone!), using his own band -and playing a mean bass for all to see and hear, and providing little more than water and the Hope Watermelon to satisfy the voters' hunger and thirst. I missed his speech inside, but appreciated his accessibility after the excitement passed and the long wait of the afternoon dawned. His ease in working the crowd, despite two handlers, resembled that of a minister among his congregation after a particularly inspiring Sunday sermon. As a Baptist minister, it's not surprising, but his ability to connect in just a few seconds of eye contact allow for the political move-on to the next person without offense. In his own words, "David did pretty well against Golliath with one smooth stone."

Re-reading an older Politico story from before this weekend, I catch this quote:

“The only reason people talk about me for vice president instead of president is because of money,” he said. “Add money to my campaign, and I am a top presidential contender. It is like Kool-Aid: All you have to do is add water. Well, just add money to my campaign and I am ready to go. And Ames will provide the momentum.”

I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.

In the risk of this not being an op-ed in favor of Huckabee(ha! nice try!), I found this equally as amusing:

Mike Huckabee yesterday noted that he managed to snare 18 percent of the vote despite investing much less in the event than his top rivals. "It wasn't just that we surprised people with a second showing, it's that we did it with so few resources," he said. "This really was feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves."

No, Democratic critics, Huckabee doesn't think he's Jesus here, but he can talk that talk as a Baptist minister and believe in feeding many with very little. He didn't bring in a single bus. He got more votes than he bought.

It's his demeanor, his slight southern drawl barely detected through a slight chuckle. Huckabee is the funny guy, he's the average Joe. While his candidacy may be a long shot, a "footnote" in your child's next history book, he shows he is human. He's bound to make a mistake with his tongue, but he doesn't shy away from talking about creation and realizing that people have faults, but that's what makes them worth knowing and growing along side- worth governing and leading. It also makes him less afraid to be himself, his fat old self, faults and all.

“In the very best people I have ever met, there is a secret side that nobody else knows, a dark side that make us all very fragile and human and real,” he said. “And in some of the worst people I have ever encountered I have also found that you can’t completely write them off as unredeemable.”

The real Mike Huckabee shows himself on the campaign trail. He's less scripted and more vulnerable, but it's endearing and captivating at the same time.
Read the rest.

Mitt Romney - Romney surprised me with something I'd been waiting to hear from at least one of the GOP bunch. During his speech, the first of the panel, Romney said that "President Bush has kept us safe for the last 6 and a half years - and that's been a tough job." He ran away from that same answer the next morning though, I was not pleased.

The other struggle I have with Governor Romney is his polish. He's scripted and each answer feels like he's wearing a mask, mouth corners turned up just enough. He knows what he's going to say long before the question is asked. But if he doesn't, he changes his answer a tad and throws me off again. Is he too perfect? The man never has a hair out of place, and his Ken doll appearance sometimes outweighs the power of thought in his answers. I like his answers- but where have we seen him off-the-cuff?

Ann Romney, darling lady, looks the part, but her answers to Chris Wallace on FoxNews were less than impressive. Perhaps the campaign advisors could take a break on scripting Mitt and give Ann a few more words. Though, I suppose I can't compare everyone to Laura Bush...

Governor Romney did have quite a spread, I will admit. His staff has worked incredibly hard thus far, and it shows. We should expect this level throughout.

And the Fair - The Iowa State Fair truly IS a state fair on steroids. Talk about turkey legs.