It's a Home Run for Mike Huckabee on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace and anyone who says otherwise cannot be trusted as an analyst (just a playful dig).  His responses to Wallace's questions were simply magnificent (another playful dig). On every level of examination it was a masterpiece (one last dig). Last week was arguably the worst week of the campaign so far for Huckabee. Unlike that west coast blogger, there are areas I differ with someone I have been known to support. First the National Smoking Ban, then the Scholarships for Illegal Aliens really made me scratch my head. I can certainly find fault for both those. But to Huckabee's credit, he is focused and on message. Some analysis of Governor Huckabee's visit to FNS...

- "The Quarantine Issue" First question out of the box is on this weeks so-called bomb shell,
     the mis-characterization of advocating a quarantine for people afflicted with AIDS. Wallace
     tried to get him to put his own foot in the bear trap and Huckabee avoided it with a clear
     and reasonable answer. Many Americans had reservations about receiving blood trans-
     fusions and how to deal with the epidemic. The Governor addressed those concerns and
     showed his executive experience with the recent Avian Flu pandemic and the need to be
     ready for it. Handling the "but" question from Wallace, Huckabee was ready - talking about
     both someone he knew who got AIDS from a blood transfusion and one from his
     homosexuality.

     But here is where he directly contrasts himself with Mitt Romney, "But what I'm not going
     to do is to go back and now try to change every story I've ever had. I'm going to simply say
     that that was exactly what I said. I don't run from it, don't recant from it."  GRAND SLAM!

- "The Speech and Faith in Politics" Question from Chris Wallace had to do with Charles
     Krauthammer's column making claims that the Governor is exploiting religious differences
     for political gain. After a sincere answer, the "Wallace follow up" came fast with "Do you
     think it's intolerant -- do you think it's prejudice -- for voters -- I'm not asking you; for voters
     to consider the tenets of Mormonism in judging Mitt Romney?" Another Grand Slam
     Response from Huckabee, "I do think that's inappropriate. I think people should judge
     Mitt Romney on his record. Is he consistent? Does he say and believe the things now
     that he said and believed before? That's what ought to be the criteria. I don't think
     his Mormonism ought to be a factor in it. And I wouldn't  vote for or against somebody
     because they were Mormon. It simply wouldn't be that big of an issue for me. If it is
     for others, they'll have to explain that. It isn't for me, and it shouldn't be for anyone."
     Slam, out of the park! Huckabee is on the record now saying it's not Romney's faith
     that he should be judged by, it's his record. Has he changed positions and been
     questioned about those changes, yes. is it right to ask, YES!

-  "Immigration" Wallace questioned him about saying in the past he was for a pathway for
     Citizenship, again trying to get him to flip flop like someone from Massachusetts and
    again, grand slam "When I said a pathway, I didn't say what the pathway was." Great
    answer. He adds a common sense answer about how technology has allowed us to
    get "a credit card application done in hours," which is something Newt talks about
    frequently...and somehow avoids getting scorched by someone on the west coast. Do
    I agree 100% completely with Hucakbee on Immigration, no. Am I afriad to say it,
    absolutely not. On a frim imigration stance meter, I would like to see him be more like
    Duncan Hunter. That's trusted analysis.

While he didn't receive the Rush Limbaugh Stamp of Approval, but when Chris Wallace closes a thanks for "for giving us some straight answers" then you know it diffuses any unncesseary and unwarranted illogical attacks. Will Huckabee ever convince a certain west coast blogocrat, certainly not. But very few are so dogmatic

Dictionary.com: Dog-ma-tic (adjective) asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner; opinionated.

In all seriousness, we have to have passion about those we support. It's also important not to be an un-biased cheerleader that leads to people to question your role. As Michelle Malkin writes, "sometimes a candidate's worst enemy isn't his most staunch opponent, but his most overzealous fan."   

What Romney supporters have to be concerned about most is what Bill Kristol had to say during the round table portion of Sunday's program:

    "But I think there's an awful -- kind of a patronizing tone about the Christian
    evangelicals and about Mike Huckabee. Mike Huckabee is second in the national polls.
    He's not just popular in Iowa where there happen to be, according to people inside the
    Beltway, a lot of wacky Christian evangelicals. Huckabee is rising everywhere. He has
    been a very good candidate. He's not particularly my favorite. But you've got to give credit
    where credit is due. He is running a heck of a campaign, and it's not just in Iowa.He's
    second in every national poll since Thanksgiving. Romney's problem is that he hasn't
    been able to rise in the national polls, though spending about, what, 20 times more
    money than Mike Huckabee."

This has the be the spur up Hugh Hewitt's saddle, that despite all the money and hopes, Romney just can't make any movement in the polls. The message isn't resonating, so he is saying it is only a two man race. Should Fred Thompson, which is still plausable, get back on track - watch for the arrows to fly in his direction.
So is Hugh right, it's a two man race, well the answer would be bad news for Hugh because Romney isn't that second guy.

Looking at the National Polls (December)...
Rasmussen: Giuliani 22, Huckabee 19, Romney & Thompson 13, McCain 10
AP-Ipsos: Giuliani 26, Huckabee 18, McCain 13, Romney 12, Thompson 11
USA Today/Gallop: Giuliani 25, Huckabee 16, McCain and Thompson 15, Romney 12
AVERAGE: Giuliani 24.3, Huckabee 17.6, Fred Thompson 13, John McCain 12.7, Mitt Romney 12.3

Iowa...
Newsweek: Huckabee 39, Romney 17, Thompson 10, Giuliani 9, McCain 6
Mason Dixon: Huckabee 32, Romney 20, Thompson 11, McCain 7, Giuliani 5

New Hampshire...
Mason-Dixon: Romney 25, Giuliani 17, McCain 16, Huckabee 11
Zogby: Romney 35, McCain 17, Giuliani 15, Huckabee 10

Michigan...
Rasmussen: Huckabee 21, Romney 20, Giuliani 19, Thompson 9, McCain 8

South Carolina...
Mason Dixon: Huckabee 20, Giuliani 17, Romney 15, Thompson 14, McCain 10
Rasmussen: Huckabee 25, Romney 18, Thompson 18, Giuliani 12
Insider Advantage: Huckabee 23, Thompson and Giuliani 17, Romney 14

Florida...
Survey USA: Giuliani 32, Huckabee 18, Romney 15, Thompson 14

What if Huckabee Wins Iowa, Michigan and South Carolina while Romney gets New Hampshire...can the momentum    from winning three of the first four give him the boost to pick up Florida? Especially if Fred pulls out. Hugh may be right, it just might not be Romney that is that second guy. Huckabee has survived all the irrational one-sided attacks so far, just shows he is skilled at what he does. Again, I don't agree with him 100%, but I don't advertise to either.