This week, Mike Huckabee successfully made the transition to become a serious contender with ideas and opportunities. Money is coming in, poll numbers are up, and to those who are paying attention, many are realizing that this former clergyman is the real deal.

And, that is the point. Most of the public is still not paying attention. So, there’s still time for the opponents to frame this upstart candidate in an unwelcome light, and to shade the issues in such a way that the larger population may yet be influenced against him.

It’s no great surprise, and is part of Primary politics. Several examples come to mind, but none stands out like the Willie Horton issue, which, unlike the Internet, was created by Al Gore some twenty years ago. It really wasn’t that effective for Al Gore, but I think that reflects more on Gore’s candidacy than on the issue itself. The Bush campaign certainly made good use of it in the General Election.

In this compressed Primary season, the campaign activists understand that their attacks must be pointed, their rhetoric sharp: hit the hot buttons, plant seeds of doubt, put away the bean bags, and turn up the temperature. That’s the way it goes.

Two of those pointed pontifications caught my attention today. One was in NRO, the other in the WSJ, respected journals who have been known to butt heads at times, none more memorable than during the recent immigration debate. You can read the Governor’s response to WSJ here.

Since both camps are in agreement that they don’t heart Huckabee, I think it’s safe to say that immigration is not their big problem with Mike Huckabee. I do surmise that since a large portion of their livelihoods and that of their readership is directly influenced by the Tax Code, Mike Huckabee’s advocacy for the Fair Tax understandably scares the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of them.

“The best thing the government could do,” Huckabee says, “is eliminate any type of penalties on productivity and innovation. One of the reasons that I support the Fair Tax is that it turns all sectors of the economy loose.”

Build a better moustrap, and reap the benefits. That doesn’t sound like a socialistic, anti-growth policy because it isn’t. But, it would represent a dramatic change in the status quo. It is an idea that is worthy of serious consideration and debate. Further, embracing a pro-growth, pro-profit program like the Fair Tax does not make one a populist, either. But it is bandied about as a convenient label for those whose sacred cows would be gored by its passage.

As the Primary season heats up, I’m very pleased with the quality of candidates vying for the job. We Republicans have much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the fact that the testing and vetting of the Primary process will help to produce a strong candidate, much as gold is purified by fire. Conservatives are ready for a cogent and articulate presentation of the conservative message, And, as much as we appreciate the steadiness and focus of President Bush in defending the homeland, the fact is, the message has been lost. The American People want to be inspired. NRO’s statement that Huckabee should not be on the ticket was short-sighted. I think if Rudy or Mitt could bring a couple of Northeastern states along with them, then Mike Huckabee should give them serious consideration to joining him on the ticket.

AP has a different take

Lucas Roebuck weighs in

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