Thank you, NY Times, for covering this debate!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Pasted from New York Times
September 18, 2007, 5:49 pm
Values Voters Pick Huckabee
By Michael Luo

For all those wondering whether Mitt Romney can break through among Christian conservatives, add this data point: he was the only candidate who received zero votes in a straw poll after last night’s Values Voters Debate, an event he and the other leading Republican contenders decided to skip.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was the runaway winner with 64 percent of the vote, raising anew the question of whether Christian conservative leaders and voters might be able to coalesce around him as a longshot candidate and propel him to the first tier in the Republican race.

The rest of the pack: Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas, 12 percent; Alan Keyes, who made his debut as a candidate at the debate, 5 percent, Senator Sam Brownback, 5 percent; Rep. Duncan Hunter 4 percent; Fred D. Thompson, 4 percent; Rep. Tom Tancredo, 2 percent; Rudolph W. Giuliani 1 percent, Senator John McCain and John Cox, 1 percent; Mr. Romney, 0 percent.

Mr. Romney, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Giuliani and Mr. McCain all passed on the event, citing scheduling conflicts, even though Mr. Giuliani stumped in Florida yesterday and Mr. Romney and Mr. Thompson are there today.

The event featured a Who’s Who list of conservative activists as debate questioners, including Phyllis Schafly, founder and President of Eagle Forum, Don Wildmon, founder and chaiman of the American Family Association, and Paul Weyrich, founder and President of the Free Congress Foundation. The poll was taken among several hundred people who were selected by the conservative leaders to cast a ballot.

An intriguing set of statistics was the change in the candidates’ poll numbers before and after the debate. Mr. Huckabee nearly doubled his total of 34 percent before the debate, while Mr. Thompson plummeted from 15 percent; Mr. Giuliani started at 5 percent;Mr. McCain, 4 percent; Mr. Romney, 4 percent.

The event was streamed live on ValuesVoterDebate.com and the a href=”http://www.AFA.net”>American Family Association’s Web site. It was also broadcast by a pair of Christian radio networks.
Janet Folger, a member of the debate’s host committee and president of Faith 2 Action, a group that works to unite “pro-family” organizations, excoriated the candidates who skipped the event, especially Mr. Thompson and Mr. Romney who are angling for conservative votes, and said their non-participation would cost them.

“They have the mentality of, ‘Look, we’re going to get you guys anyway because you don’t have anywhere to go,’” she said. “What literally happened last night is values voters moved from the back of the bus to the driver’s seat. We’re now going to see a united front.”

She said that many Christian conservatives had been praying for a clear winner to emerge from the debate, which is what happened. As a result, she said, she will be casting her lot in now with Mr. Huckabee.

“The values voters have spoken,” she said. “It’s loud and clear. It’s unmistakable.”

Go to www.MikeHuckabee.com for more on Vertical Day before mid-morning tomorrow, September 25. Click on the link to the right. Don't miss out!

So why not Fred Thompson? According to a private email published by the Associated Press as recorded in the article excerpt below from CBN News, Dr. James Dobson had this to say:

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" questioned Dobson.

"He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to,'" the Focus founder continued. "And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding Dobson's take about Thompson's positions on conservative issues, the CBN article goes on to say:

"A primary concern Dobson raises about Thompson is his position on gay marriage, as the former Tennessee senator stated that he would support a constitutional amendment prohibiting states from forcing their gay marriage laws on other states - a stance the evangelical leader considers to run contrary to Christian values.

A constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on a national scale is supported by Dobson and many Christian conservatives, and Thompson's position has raised doubts in the minds of many about his faith.

Dobson highlighted a recent news story on Thompson in an e-mail addressed "Dear friends," in which the Law and Order actor stated that even though he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he is not a regular churchgoer and won't speak about his faith on the stump."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

So, who is Dr. Dobson supporting??? The CBN article adds...

""Dobson declared earlier this year that he would not vote for Republican candidate John McCain due to his challenge to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The Focus founder also said that he would not support Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani if he won the GOP nomination, calling him an "unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand." Dobson also mentioned how Giuliani signed a 1997 bill to set up benefits for domestic partners in New York City. The former New York mayor's values were also questioned by Dobson, who pointed out that Giuliani and his wife were in their third marriage."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sources: CNN, The Associated Press, CBN News, Christian Newswire, U.S. News & World Report

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A few of my own thoughts...

Once more, who is Dobson supporting? The only candidates remaining are Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. It's just a guess, but I'll venture to say that Mike Huckabee will get his endorsement. And when he does, that will only boost Governor Huckabee's ability to win. He already has the conservative endorsements of the Promise Keepers and the Home School Legal Defense Association. I for one would love to see Dr. James Dobson added to that list.

Go Mike!

Recently, a few of my friends have said they're looking at supporting Senator Fred Thompson.

Okay, truth is, I gave that some thought, too. I even stayed up late to watch Thompson's candidacy announcement on Jay Leno (and I am NOT a Jay Leno fan!).

It didn't take long to figure out that despite Thompson's edge with celebrity name recognition, his public speaking abilities don't hold a candle to Mike Huckabee's, neither in style nor content. My hunch is that most people who support Thompson haven't taken the time to really compare him with Huckabee.

I've also heard people say, "I'd like to vote for Mike Huckabee, but I don't think I'll get the chance."

In other words, is Mike Huckabee really electable?

Well, that is entirely up to us. We can make it happen.

You know, it's kind of fun to be pulling for the underdog. Governor Huckabee won't win the presidency because of celebrity, name recognition, money or connections. He'll win because conservatives stand together and actually do something.... That is, we must go out on a limb, talk UP Huckabee with our friends and family, make donations, blog, write editorials, go to events, stay informed, and most importantly, VOTE AT CAUCUSES and PRIMARIES.

So, let's get together for another win for Huckabee. He's done it before, and he can do it again.

So, what about Fred Thompson? That's just it. So what.

To acknowledge Governor Mike Huckabee's Vertical Day campagin, I've pasted a copy of a recent article citing yet another Huckabee win.

Go Mike!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Pasted from www.mikehuckabee.com

September 21, 2007

LITTLE ROCK, AR – South Carolina conservatives continue to rally around Mike Huckabee. Last night, Mike Huckabee won the Palmetto Family Council Straw Poll, garnering 206 of the 539 votes cast. Huckabee was picked as the favorite at the largest gathering of South Carolina conservatives before the January 19 Republican Primary. Every Republican Presidential candidate, except Rudy Giuliani, stressed the priority of this event with their presence in person, by video, or via speakerphone.

Governor Huckabee responded to his victory by stating, "I'm pleased, and proud, and honored to have the support of so many South Carolinians who believe, as I do, in the core values which define American culture and life. Historically, South Carolina has chosen every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan and the inception of the South Carolina Republican Primary. South Carolina is quickly becoming Huckabee Country as South Carolina conservatives continue to coalesce around one candidate and together we will prevail."

Huckabee's victory comes just days after winning Monday's Value Voters Debate Straw Poll with 63% of the vote and continues a trend, which includes winning Monday's Value Voters Debate Straw Poll; a strong Second Place finish at the Republican Party of Iowa Straw Poll last month in Ames; and finishing first and second respectively in April straw polls in Spartanburg and Greenville counties, which combine to make up nearly 20% of the Republican primary vote.

Out of 539 votes cast:

Mike Huckabee - 206
Ron Paul - 179 Fred Thompson - 43
Sam Brownback - 29
Duncan Hunter - 25
Mitt Romney - 14
John McCain - 10
Rudy Giuliani - 5

---------------------------------------------------------------------