The new
AP poll reveals that not very many people have read Quin's
reporting - at least not yet. Rudy is at 26% (down 3 from last
time), Huckabee moves up from 10% to 18%, McCain is at 13%, Romney
at 12% and Thompson at 11% (down 8%). The Huckabee phenomenon
reminds me of the Thompson surge in September- displacing McCain
for second but not overtaking Rudy. And indeed it seems that
Huckabee has replaced Thompson as the new potential Rudy
alternative. The question remains why Romney never stepped into
this role-- and others ask the same query as to why
he never "popped." His campaign has always maintained that he was
an unknown and couldn't break out until he won an early primary but
why then the Huckabee run? This seems as good an explanation
as any.