Early Sunday: FDT and a new Huck commercial kicks…………

………….. your you know what. TRS caught only the tail end of FDT on Stephanopoulos before seeing the Mike Huckabee interview by Chris Wallace. The candidates' respective appearances were significant in content, and worthy of discussion, but first, you’ve gotta see the Huckabee ad that is opening in Iowa tomorrow. Chuck Norris will kick your you know what if you don’t support Huck, I’ll tell you that.

FDT and Huck provide an interesting contrast of the southern politician. FDT appears to be a calm, stolid leadership. FDT’s response to Stephanopoulos’ questions about the “late start” of the Thompson campaign provided FDT with a chance to display the image of a calm, yet resolute and confident leader. Using a very patient tone, Fred cites history (the nearly 40 point swing in his first Senate race) and then calmly transitions into the present (Iowa fluid, trouble in NH and leading in SC) as evidence of a highly competitive Presidential campaign. FDT looks like the President should, big, calm, wizened and confident.

Mike Huckabee, on the other hand, appears youthful, extremely active (of body and mind) and very sincere and likeable. Huck clashed with FDT on the issue of electability by cleverly shifting the topic to FDTs record on life issues, particularly the Life Amendment. Huckabee presented a very articulate and effective explanation of the Fair Tax proposal, clearly his most detailed national public policy statement. Huck also very effectively defended his ethical record during genuine grilling by Chris Wallace. Huck did have a minor slip with a reference to Bill Clinton’s many ethical problems-an analogy I’m sure he regrets and won’t repeat.

Fred and Mike provide a remarkable contrast with Evita, as well. Both Fred and Mike are far, far more likeable than Hillary-and likeability is huge in Presidential politics-and both will present an attractive alternative on the debate stage. Huckabee, a former collegiate varsity debater (yes, there was a “varsity” division of college debate in those days), might provide a very difficult debating opponent come next fall. One can almost imagine the debate scene where Fred metaphorically says “calm down Hillary”.