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.
