If Huckabee had run in 2012...

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Would Huckabee have rallied enough conservatives to beat Romney in the primary, or would he have divided them even further and made Romney's path to the nomination much easier?  Personally, I think he would have defeated Romney in the primary by a fair margin, but only to fare worse in the general due in part to the decline of social conservatism, which he obviously would have capitalized on throughout the general election even though the economy was much more important to voters.

I think it's obvious that his time in electoral politics has passed.  In fact, 2008 was probably the only opportunity he had to become president.  His brand of social conservatism no longer has the same appeal it did five years ago, and his perceived moderate economic populism (if you could call it that) would probably hurt him with the growing libertarian wing of the modern GOP.

[Cory]

Yes. I also think Huckabee would've won Ohio abet still losing the election.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

Probably.

[TDAS04]

He probably would have won the nomination, but not the general election.  The US is more socially conservative than I would like, but it's not as socially conservative as Huckabee would like, either. Option 1.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

He probably would have won the nomination, but not the general election.  The US is more socially conservative than I would like, but it's not as socially conservative as Huckabee would like, either. Option 1.

This. Huckabee might be able to appear more populist and turn more people on to the ticket (no 47%, I don't care about the poor stuff) but his social conservatism would have been a huge negative. He seems kinda weak, too. He would not be as tough on the President as Romney, yet at the same time, won't be viewed as "the nice guy" in the race. Huckabee will do better, but not enough to win.

[morgieb]

Probably, but I think he'd have lost worse than Romney due to the fact he could be more easily tied to Akin and Mourdock types.

[DC Al Fine]

Primary: Huckabee would've been the perfect guy to beat Romney. Right wing enough to get the Tea Partiers & religious right, but still a high quality candidate unlike Gingrich, Santorum etc.

Election:About the same result overall but somewhat different at the state level. Huckabee's populism would've done well with working class whites, but scared off soccer moms. Pennsylvania & Ohio would be closer while New Hampshire & Colorado would've been lost by more.

[RogueBeaver]

Huckabee's economic record, views and statements "Club for Greed" wouldn't fly, plus his parole problems would make great attack ad fodder in both primary and GE. Doesn't have a GOP base outside socons.

GE: Agreed with DC. Though I do see Huck handling the cultural curveballs better than Romney, who ignored them.

[Vosem]

Huck would've strolled to the nomination, but he would've been beaten worse than Romney by Obama. But, on the other hand, he would've been able to do it with more grace -- that is to say, I think in the aftermath more people would've had a positive opinion of Huck than had one of Romney.

[barfbag]

He would've done about as well as Romney in the general election. I'm not sure he would've beaten Romney in the primaries or not. At least he would've given him a run for his money. Social conservatives love him and that's something missing from Romney last year.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

He wouldn't have won the primary.

[Cryptic]

Huckabee would've probably won the primary, but would've lost in the general.

[publicunofficial]

Depending on when he got into the race, a Huckabee candidacy might keep Santorum and maybe Perry out of the race. They share a similar base, with Huckabee being more well known (through his TV show) and generally more likable.

That being said, I believe he would've lost the general and would've done worse than Romney. Social issues were never going to be a winning line in 2012, especially with Akin and Mourdock filling air time. And Huckabee has never been the standard-bearer for conservative economic principles, so he'd likely have difficulty attacking Obama on that front. And I'm sure he's said enough things on his show to make a few decent lines of attack on.

Plus, I'm of the mind that Huckabee's chances of winning a national election evaporated the moment one of his clemency-granted prisoners murdered four Seattle police officers.

[Mr. Morden]

Akin would have destroyed Huckabee's candidacy in the general election, given Huck's own history with Fay Boozman.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Akin would have destroyed Huckabee's candidacy in the general election, given Huck's own history with Fay Boozman.

Indeed, it is the same exact story, except afterwards he appointed Fay Boozman to a position responsible for healthcare, and essentially told the critics to stick it. Akin would have be wrapped right around his neck.

Romney would have defeated him in the primary, and if not him, then someone else. There is no way the big money types would have let Huckabee have it and the threat of big defeat would have motivated someone else that didn't run to get in, if necessary.  But either way, Huckabee would not have won the nomination.

[Torie]

I think NC Yankee is closest to the truth. I would have voted for Obama over Huckabee precisely because of Huck's populism and rather rigid carryover of his religious fundamentalism into the public square. I also have doubts about his temperament and ethics frankly.  So if I am any exemplar of the Pub elite and monied interests, you kind of get the drift.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

People tend to forget that both Rick Perry and to some extent New Gingrich did well during their moments, was because they were the next ABR candidate not just among the Tea Partiers but also amongst the "Anti-Romney" Establishment (COC, WSJ, IBD)'s littany of ABRs.

Romney commanded a huge chunk of change from his former collegues and associates in his and amongst other industries, but there was a large amount even on Wall Street that only got behind Romney because they were afraid that if they went with someone else, someone even more undesirable would win. This could be called the reluctant Romney big money and reluctantly pro-Romney establishment. But just like their more hostile compatriots, they really despised Romney and preferred a candidate much like that of Rudy or McCain on immigration and Romney was considered to be an apostate on that issue as as businessman who was against open borders. If Romney could not destroy Huckabee, then this anti-Romney and reluctantly Romney money would have convinced Jeb or Christie to get in, eventually, even the stash controlled by those who liked Romney would have gravitated to this late entrant to stop Huckabee.

Also I don't think Rick Santorum would have skipped the race, based on his endorsement of Mittens over the Huckster in 2008, and thus Huckabee would have had someone running to his right and in spite of Santorum's daliances with populist economics, he has a far more conservative record to tout on tax cuts, welfare reform and other stuff to anchor himself in that regard, which Huckabee did not.

[anvi]

Huck would still have been in a crowded primary field in 2012, and I see no reason to believe he would have united the conservative base of the party more than any other conservative candidate in the field.  He wouldn't have won the primary.

[Stranger in a strange land]

His candidacy would have been Willy Hortoned to death and he would have lost any credibility he had with the conservative movement:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Clemmons
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113003928.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5836475-504083.html

[NewYorkExpress]

Neither Huckabee nor Romney win the primaries, Gringrich does but gets crushed in the general.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

No, he does not win the primary.

Social conservatives/populists made their statement with Santorum, and they still lost. The truth is for all the crazies in the Republican Party, run-of-the-mill conservatives still dominate the GOP primaries. That is why Romney won. They are the "Silent Majority" in the primaries. Romney still would've won the primaries on electability and business experience.

Huckabee had his moment in 2008, and if Gore had won in 2000, he could've challenged in 2004.

He would've had a Santorum-esque performance, but in the end only damage Romney in the general election even more.

If by the grace of God he won the primaries, he would've been killed at the polls. Just like Santorum.

[barfbag]

No, he does not win the primary.

Social conservatives/populists made their statement with Santorum, and they still lost. The truth is for all the crazies in the Republican Party, run-of-the-mill conservatives still dominate the GOP primaries. That is why Romney won. They are the "Silent Majority" in the primaries. Romney still would've won the primaries on electability and business experience.

Huckabee had his moment in 2008, and if Gore had won in 2000, he could've challenged in 2004.

He would've had a Santorum-esque performance, but in the end only damage Romney in the general election even more.

If by the grace of God he won the primaries, he would've been killed at the polls. Just like Santorum.

Good point I never thought of Huckabee running in 2004 had Bush not been president.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Huckabee has been a real disappointment.  At one point it seemed like he was someone who could broaden the appeal of the GOP. Now he's just preaching to the base what they already believe.