Some of you underestimate the ability of the Huckster. I'm not a big fan of his, but he knows how to connect with the American people, and he would've held his own. He wouldn't have freaked out when the market crashed, and opposed the bailout from the beginning. He still loses, but he's not losing the Dakota's, Nebraska, etc .. That's silly. If McCain had opposed the bailout and not freaked out, he would've never dug himself a hole. Those two things alone would've helped him keep Florida and North Carolina by driving up the evangelical turnout.
Huckabee v. Obama
324-214
With Romney, it's hard to tell. He does come off a sleezy, but to tell you the truth, he would've been the only candidate in the race to know something about the economy. He would've opposed the bailout, not called off his campaign, and perhaps said something copetant to the American people about the state of the economy. He may have still been plauged by his image, but he would've come off better than McCain.
Romney v. Obama
286-252
I know I might get a lot of flak for the last map, but if someone had come forth was a real vision for the economy and opposed the unpopular bailout, it would've made a big difference in this race. Obama's margin of victory was aided by McCain's economic incompetence and support of the bailout. Obama's plan isn't much better, but his rhetorical promises made some inroads. Romney is a sleezey guy and all, but he knows the economy.
