Huckabee endorses Obama!

Well, not quite, but he offered some praise for the Senator from Illinois that shows that at least some Republicans think that Obama is the real threat to the Republicans this fall.

It is pretty strong praise from the opposition. If it came from a Democrat I would consider it to be a real endorsement.

Huckabee, at a breakfast with reporters in Washington on Tuesday, also offered an assessment across party lines:

People have "underestimated Barack Obama and his capacity to inspire," Huckabee said Tuesday. "He has energized an enormous [part] of the electorate."

Huckabee, suggesting that Obama could make for a tougher Democratic contender in November, said, "Voters, ultimately, when they are thinking of a leader, are not thinking necessarily of someone who can fix the carburetor, but someone who can drive the car... That's where I think Obama has had the distinct advantage."

Huck isn't exactly who I would turn to in looking for guidance in political issues (even though, as an Obama fan this excites me) but it is worthwhile to see that some Republicans think that Barack Obama could sweep McCain this fall.

Not quite an endorsement (it would scare me if he DID endorse Obama) but worth seeing.

•  one good quote

  Huckleberry sums up the race in a way that makes the difference between Obama and Clinton very clear:

  "Voters, ultimately, when they are thinking of a leader, are not thinking necessarily of someone who can fix the carburetor, but someone who can drive the car... That's where I think Obama has had the distinct advantage."

  I couldn't say it better than that.

  by denniswine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:50:46 PM PDT

  •  Wow!

    I couldn't agree more.  This is an excellent statement.  He gets Obama...

    by EJP in Maine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:55:21 PM PDT

    •  and he gets on McCain's last nerve :)

      by Statusquomustgo on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:00:41 PM PDT

    •  That's because

      Huckabee IS that candidate on the Republican side.

      by Joe Willy on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:04:12 PM PDT

  •  When a Republican...

    says something nice about a candidate in a Democratic primary...I would be careful about the validity of the source...

    by dvogel001 on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:57:01 PM PDT

    •  No, there's no need to question the source

      In one of the GOP Presidental debates, Mike Huckabee said the same nice compliments about Barack Obama.  He sounded serious because he mentioned that the Republican Party needs to do a better job at reaching out to young voters.

      by pipsorcle on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:02:22 PM PDT

      •  He always sounds serious and folksy...

        just part of the act...

        by dvogel001 on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:08:20 PM PDT

  •  I'm beginning to see...

    that folks on both sides want new faces.  Brand new faces.  I'm VERY impressed by Huckabee's assessment, BTW>

    by mayan on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:09:08 PM PDT

•  Obama/Huckabee 2008!!!

  Ok, maybe not.

  by johnny rotten on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:51:30 PM PDT

  •  yeah, probably not... n/t

    by denniswine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:52:41 PM PDT

  •  Well, maybe we could keep him around

    to fix the carburator. Oh wait, do they still use carburators? Never mind.

    by Bouwerie Boy on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:57:34 PM PDT

  •  I like Huck because he drives the thugs NUTS

    bawahahahahahhahahahahahahah

    by Statusquomustgo on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:59:05 PM PDT

  •  That one would probably win, unlike McCain/Huck.

    by BoringDem on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:00:11 PM PDT

•  He does have a point about the car/carburetor.

  Being Pres. requires the ability to organize and manage.
  Obama has demonstrated those capabilities with his campaign.

  by CrawfordMan on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:52:51 PM PDT

•  They've praised each other on several occasions.

  by brooklynbadboy on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:54:35 PM PDT

  •  yeah politicians do it all the time

    I just liked the quote.

    I'm a sucker for metaphors that capture an idea. This one does the job pretty well for me.

    Too bad about the source, eh?

    by denniswine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:56:25 PM PDT

•  He recognizes a fellow Messiah.

  by Salo on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:57:50 PM PDT

  •  ooops

    by Salo on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:58:47 PM PDT

•  Drive the car?

  That sounds like a "driving miss daisy" reference to me...

  by chris s on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:59:17 PM PDT

  •  If Bill Clinton Had Said That...

    ...instead of Huckabee, can you imagine the charges of racism that would be resounding from Obama supporters.

    by jabney on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:35:57 PM PDT

•  I wouldn't vote for the Huck...

  ...for dog catcher, but it is hard to dislike the guy (unless, of course, you think about him as POTUS -yikes!!)

  by carver on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:15:32 PM PDT

•  FWIW

  as someone said above -- i can't hate the guy. i think if he were president, i would agree with more things he does than bush has done. the things he has said about immigrants and poverty touch my bleeding liberal heart. and i think he is genuine, overall. i like that alan keyes called him a socialist. and it's nice to have someone who is super religious not be a nasty, vile, hateful demagogue like falwell or robertson. not saying that huckster loves the gays or the rights of women. but he is like obama in many ways in that he is not divisive.

  in my opinion, i know lots here will disagree. and you are entitled, but i don't wanna get in any fights so keep your attitudes to yourself. why i gotta be on the defensive all the time here? damn.

  by missreporter on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:25:46 PM PDT

•  l like Huckabee a lot

  Disagree on just about every issue, but if he were a Dem, he'd be my kind of candidate.  

  A people powered fighter, steadfast in his beliefs and able to win over people of all stripes.

  by Pragmatic Left on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:34:50 PM PDT

  •   I admire Huckabee

    I wouldn't vote for him over any of our candidates but he is the first Republican that conservative Christians can vote for and not be voting against their own economic self interest.

     In truth if he got elected he could probably work with a Democratic congress to get stuff done WAY better than somebody like Mc Cain. Also while the religious legislation stuff I'm totally against how much of that do you think would actually stand a chance of passing vs his domestic agenda. Heck he's even more sensible on foreign policy.

     Another thing I like about him is mostly he answers the question. One of the things I like about Obama. He doesn't change the subject or talk something to death or try to play both sides. He gives his answer. Counts a lot even if I don't agree with his answer.

     Used to feel like that about Mc Cain to a degree but mostly he is an ass kisser and war monger now.

    by Hollowdweller on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:44:47 PM PDT

•  Huckabee...

  blech

  by Lynwaz on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:40:23 PM PDT