I keep getting robo-called and push-polled for that crazy fried-squirrel-eater, Mike Huckabee.
The latest call today was caught by my answering machine, with a recorded voice saying, "Mike Huckabee can be trusted to always protect life. (Except squirrel life!)
"John McCain supports controversial scientific experimentation on unborn babies. (Wow, must have missed news of those.) John McCain sacrificed many pro-life judges by teaming with his liberal senator friends.
"Mitt Romney says he believes abortion should be legal. Mitt Romney opposes human life amendments. Mitt Romney has switched his position on abortion five times in the past fifteen years. (Poor Mitt, I understand that's true or at least partially true)
"A vote for Mike Huckabee tomorrow is a vote for life and much more. Visit trusthuckabee.com Paid for by Common Sense Issues and not authorized by or coordinated with any candidate or campaign committee. 719-306-2546."
719 is a Colorado number, but the call originated from Herndon, Va, 703-378-7296.
First call came two days ago and was a push-poll. Kept trying to get me to say I supported Huckabee by coming up with a position he held or vote he'd once made and then something like, "Would knowing X make you more likely to vote for Mike Huckabee?" No, it would not.
So, we are ready for the Republican Primary tomorrow, and I meant to get some photos of various intersections around town in Greenville, SC, to show you the utter confusion that reins among people here.
First, there's a decided lack of enthusiasm, as judged by my own yard-sign survey and based on my memory of elections passed. It looks like people just don't care, and that of those who care enough to express an opinion, there is absolutely no consensus about who the Republican nominee should be.
All the little signs just look lonely and kind of sad. One for Huckabee, maybe one for Mitt, a few for McCain, even fewer for Thompson, and everywhere -- absolutely everywhere -- Ron Paul.
There's hardly a bumptersticker for George Bush left on any cars here anymore. I think even hard-core Republicans here in South Carolina are embarrassed and disgusted with Bush and I wonder how many will simply stay home tomorrow.
I'm betting that turn-out will be low, as it's been for the other Republican primaries and caucuses, and that Republicans will really panic when they tank in a place like South Carolina.
I did get a call from the Fred Thompson campaign today and someone showing up at my door, campaigning for Fred, two days ago. Got two mailers from Obama today, saying Hillary's smearing him.
Oh, and this morning as I was taking my daughter to school I passed a new sign at an intersection, the Confederate flag as a background and I'm pretty sure the word "Boot" and Giuliani. Planned on getting a closer look when I came back home, but it was gone by then. No idea what that was.
Latest poll I've seen for SC is from McClatchy and shows:
McCain, 27 percent.
Huckabee, 25 percent.
Romney, 15 percent.
Thompson, 13 percent.
Ron Paul, 6 percent.
Giuliani, 5 percent.
Undecided, 8 percent.
McClatchy says the largest block of undecided voters are those identifying themselves as evangelical Christians and the way they go may well swing the primary results one way or another.