Palin Whips Huckabee, Gingrich with Florida Endorsements
Sarah Palin's endorsement in the Florida attorney general's race might not have sealed the deal for Pam Bondi, but the Alaskan rogue's support certainly carried more weight than Newt Gingrich's.
Bondi handily won the GOP nomination for AG while Gingrich's pick, Holly Benson, remained mired in third place. Both endorsements came late, yet it was Bondi who picked up the bulk of the late deciders, based on comparative polling results. Advantage: Palin.
Meantime, Mike Huckabee's endorsement didn't do much, if anything, for Bill McCollum. Though Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, moved to the Florida Panhandle this spring, his presence doesn't seem to be getting much traction here.
All three Republicans -- Palin, Gingrich and Huckabee -- are maneuvering for presidential bids in 2012. Based on the win-loss ratios of their endorsements here and elsewhere, Palin leads the field, by far.
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Comments (20)
4:44PM AUG 29TH 2010
This makes it sound as if they were playing a game of poker , or picking the winning nag in a horse race. I still believe that an endorsement is about helping the candidate that you feel is best suited for the job not picking a sure winner or making sure you are holding the winning hand when the game is over. As a Huckabee supporter, I find he consistently endorses the proven conservatives. That was evident in my home state of S.C. He endorsed Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a proven fiscal conservative. He did not jump on the Haley band wagon as many RINOS rushed to do.
10:33AM AUG 28TH 2010
Well Mr. Ward, I think the jig is up on your journalistic prowess! Palin's influence AND your view are like the 'Emperor's New Clothes'! EVERYONE sees the TRUTH!!!! You are a laughing stock.
8:01PM AUG 27TH 2010
I sure hope we don't base who our next Presidential candidate is going to be on the win-loss ratio of their endorsements! That is a scary bargain in my book. Mike Huckabee is a proven leader in that he is humble and selfless. Leaders don't always lead from the front or try for attention in front of a camera. Leaders more often aren't trying for attention, but they get it because in the end they lead! Mike Huckabee is a proven leader. He does what he knows is right even if it doesn't win him friends.
7:05PM AUG 27TH 2010
Kenric - your little blog here is wrong on so many levels I just don't know where to begin. How in the world did you come up with your title? A 1-1 Fla endorsement record "whips" a 7-9 record? If Huck had picked one race to endorse and made sure it was a "winner" he too would have been 1-1. Instead he got involved in 7 key races across the state and actually put in some hard work on behalf of those candidates.
Your bias is evident. Did you even do any research before you wrote this?
BTW the only maneuvering Huck is doing is to try to load up the House, Senate and our state governments with conservatives who will turn this country around!
Thank God for a man like Huckabee - we need more like him.
Your bias is evident. Did you even do any research before you wrote this?
BTW the only maneuvering Huck is doing is to try to load up the House, Senate and our state governments with conservatives who will turn this country around!
Thank God for a man like Huckabee - we need more like him.
6:50PM AUG 27TH 2010
Huckabee endorsed the next Florida US Senator Marco Rubio way before it became cool to do it. I guess the writer forgot that.
6:07PM AUG 27TH 2010
I'm sorry to have to disagree with much of this blog post, Kenric. Endorsements alone may be of limited help. There are various factors that weigh in. McCollum and his opponent were both fairly conservative and people made up their own minds.
One thing I have noticed is that Gov. Huckabee's endorsements are valued by candidates over the other potential presidential candidates. Why? Because with his endorsement he often will come to campaign, give a monetary gift from HuckPAC, and open his phone bank to help in tight races. He has a Huck's Army behind him that is formidable. He takes his duty to his party and especially to conservative values seriously and puts great effort into choosing, along with his team, the candidates he feels would best serve America. It is not just to further his own publicity.
I agree with others who have posted here that it is unfair to leave out all the other endorsements that Huckabee gave that won in Florida. There were seven, I believe. Also, in the case of Diebel, the race was much closer than anyone thought it would be, probably due to his endorsement and some calls from his PAC.
Huckabee has not announced an intention to run for President, but I hope he does so we can have the honor of voting for (and endorsing) him!
One thing I have noticed is that Gov. Huckabee's endorsements are valued by candidates over the other potential presidential candidates. Why? Because with his endorsement he often will come to campaign, give a monetary gift from HuckPAC, and open his phone bank to help in tight races. He has a Huck's Army behind him that is formidable. He takes his duty to his party and especially to conservative values seriously and puts great effort into choosing, along with his team, the candidates he feels would best serve America. It is not just to further his own publicity.
I agree with others who have posted here that it is unfair to leave out all the other endorsements that Huckabee gave that won in Florida. There were seven, I believe. Also, in the case of Diebel, the race was much closer than anyone thought it would be, probably due to his endorsement and some calls from his PAC.
Huckabee has not announced an intention to run for President, but I hope he does so we can have the honor of voting for (and endorsing) him!
5:53PM AUG 27TH 2010
Mike Huckabee endorsed 9 candidates in FL, seven of them won their races. Two were narrowly defeated. This article is clearly written with bias. Other than the endorsement, how much did Palin do to support her candidate? Mike Huckabee and his volunteer team worked hard for Huckabee endorsed candidates and stand ready to offer the same support in the general election.
3:03PM AUG 27TH 2010
If Palin "whips" Huckabee in Florida, then how would one summarize the Georgia Primaries? Huckabee was 3-3, and Palin was 0-1. Honestly, however, I don't think the two are in competition with these endorsements, they only have different opinions just as we all do sometimes.
2:38PM AUG 27TH 2010
This does not mean anything! Nobody better the Huckabee! Everybody knows it.
2:34PM AUG 27TH 2010
Why focus on only a tiny portion of the candidates endorsed by these three conservatives? I'd rather look at their impact on elections nationwide. Huckabee's endorsement is clearly stronger--and more importantly, the candidates he has chosen to back are all strong, capable conservatives I really want to see helping to fix the mess we are in. Some of Palin's choices had me stratching my head. (I LIKE Sarah Palin; she just doesn't have Huckabee's qualifications.) If the intent of this article was to encourage the Republican's to nominate Palin in 2012, you are doing the party a great disservice. They will either run Huckabee, or they will lose.
2:33PM AUG 27TH 2010
Since the author of this article decided not to include the facts for the readers, I will do it. The seven candidates who Mike Huckabee endorsed who won their Florida primaries are Daniel Webster for Congress (district 8), Dennis Ross for Congress (district 12), Rich Nugent for Congress (district 5), David Riveria for Congress (district 25), Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate, Mike Haridopolos for State Senate (district 26), and Mike Horner for State Representative (district 37).
The author decided to include one of the two losses that a Huckabee endorsed candidate suffered that night. Seven of his candidates won in Florida, so please tell me how that is a "loss" when Palin only won one race? It looks like the new resident of the Sunshine State does have some influence! Also, Huckabee and his PAC wade into local and statewide races and implant conservative change from the bottom up. Palin's, Romney's, and Gingrich's PACs don't do this.
I'm not sure of how many total endorsed candidates have won for both Huckabee and Palin nor do I care. Palin may be the winner there because she seems to look at the polls before she endorses where Huckabee looks at the candidates' principles. Palin has made some awful endorsements all in the name of winning or in hopes of gaining favor from the establishment. Both will end of being losses for her as the political games of the past two decade are over.
The Florida 2012 presidential primary will not be on the radar for Palin if she runs in 2012. She will lose Iowa, then New Hampshire, and therefore she will then lose South Carolina. Sorry, but whe will not be a player in the Florida primary even if her ONE candidate won their primary.
The author decided to include one of the two losses that a Huckabee endorsed candidate suffered that night. Seven of his candidates won in Florida, so please tell me how that is a "loss" when Palin only won one race? It looks like the new resident of the Sunshine State does have some influence! Also, Huckabee and his PAC wade into local and statewide races and implant conservative change from the bottom up. Palin's, Romney's, and Gingrich's PACs don't do this.
I'm not sure of how many total endorsed candidates have won for both Huckabee and Palin nor do I care. Palin may be the winner there because she seems to look at the polls before she endorses where Huckabee looks at the candidates' principles. Palin has made some awful endorsements all in the name of winning or in hopes of gaining favor from the establishment. Both will end of being losses for her as the political games of the past two decade are over.
The Florida 2012 presidential primary will not be on the radar for Palin if she runs in 2012. She will lose Iowa, then New Hampshire, and therefore she will then lose South Carolina. Sorry, but whe will not be a player in the Florida primary even if her ONE candidate won their primary.
3:41PM AUG 27TH 2010
Pam - way to go! Thanks for giving us ALL of the facts. Mike Huckabee for 2012! Let's vote for someone we can trust.
2:33PM AUG 27TH 2010
So Palin picked the candidate who was already ahead in the polls & now gets the credit for the win? LOL!
At least Huckabee only endorses candidates who share his values rather than whether or not they'll win make him look good...
At least Huckabee only endorses candidates who share his values rather than whether or not they'll win make him look good...
2:26PM AUG 27TH 2010
I am very sorry but I cannot let a blatant mistruth be told here. Huckabee endorsed 9 candidates in Florida and those candidates went 7-2. 600 votes separated Huckabee from going 8-1. Only one of those 9 candidates that Huckabee endorsed was unopposed in the primary.
2:24PM AUG 27TH 2010
All valid and appropriate comments. Huck not only endorses true conservatives, he endorses early. Remember that Huck was the first major national figure to embrace Marco Rubio among others. It is one of his many endearing qualities that the Governor does support candidates he believes in as opposed to the candidate who has the best chance of winning. His endorsements are made on principle rather than political calculation and this should always be valued over won/loss percentage, although as previosuly noted, he's doing pretty darn well there also.
2:20PM AUG 27TH 2010
Mike Huckabee did a fantastic job for endorsements in the Florida primaries. He endorsed Karen Briedel when she was coming in third; she only lost by 600 votes. He endorsed McCollum, along with Romney & Gingrich, who lost by 3% to Scott which was a surprise for everybody. Show me what other endorsements Palin did in Florida that even compare with the 5 for 7 record of Mike Huckabee. Your record in jouralism needs to improve!
2:19PM AUG 27TH 2010
Well, Palin often goes with the safer bet... Ive noticed Huckabee only does endorsements from the heart, regardless of how someone is polling. He will endorse the true conservative.. non establishment candidate even if it seems that their is no way for that person to win. Huckabee is a real stand up guy. Im glad he has moved here to florida.. and lets not forget Huckabee endorsed Rubio about a year ago when no one was even sure Rubio had a shot....... So lets put everything in to perspective.. its much easier to pick winners at the last second, then it is to only endorse those who you believe in.
2:11PM AUG 27TH 2010
According to data on http://ivotehuckabee.blogspot.com/, Huckabee endorsed candidates did well in Florida on primary night, 5 out of 7:
Florida:
Marco Rubio wins GOP nomination for US Senator (84 percent, field of 3).
Daniel Webster wins in the Florida 8th district (40 percent, field of 5).
Dennis Ross wins in the Florida 12th district (69 percent).
Rich Nugent wins in the Florida 5th district (62 percent).
David Rivera wins in the Florida 25th district (63 percent).
Bill McCollum loses GOP nomination for Florida Governor (43 percent).
Karen Diebel loses in the Florida 24th district (29 percent, field of 5)
Florida:
Marco Rubio wins GOP nomination for US Senator (84 percent, field of 3).
Daniel Webster wins in the Florida 8th district (40 percent, field of 5).
Dennis Ross wins in the Florida 12th district (69 percent).
Rich Nugent wins in the Florida 5th district (62 percent).
David Rivera wins in the Florida 25th district (63 percent).
Bill McCollum loses GOP nomination for Florida Governor (43 percent).
Karen Diebel loses in the Florida 24th district (29 percent, field of 5)
2:03PM AUG 27TH 2010
Right you are chadballer. Clearly Huckabee's win/loss record is better than Palin's across the country. Even in Alaska Palin gets all the attention but she endosed Miller early and the polls still had Murkowski ahead. When Huckabee joined in the Miller rocket took off. Mike Huckabee is indeed an influencer but more important he is the best qualified candidate for POTUS in 2012.
11:10AM AUG 27TH 2010
By my count, 7 of 9 of Mike Huckabee's endorsements in Florida won their primaries. What are Palin's numbers? Where is your proof? You're entitled to your own opinion, but just to throw up "Palin is better than Huckabee/Gingrich" with nothing to support it is...well...bad journalism.
