A Republican with the Clinton magic could spoil Giuliani’s hopes, says charles laurence |
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President Huckabee? Surely not. The name doesn't quite ring with the power and dignity of the Oval Office. But former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is the outsider to watch for Republican candidate in 2008, according to none other than James Carville.
Carville was the spin-doctor who ran Bill Clinton's White House campaign in 1992. He has a 'gut' like no other, and sees in Huckabee (right) measures of the magic formula that made Clinton the champion politician. "I've seen him on television... He likes people, he knows how to relate to people," says Carville. "He can talk the talk. I'm impressed with this guy's political skills."
This comes as Rudy Giuliani, a heady 25 polling points ahead of fading Republican rival Senator John McCain - too old at 70 - got hit by the first brickbat from his messy private life. |
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| Clinton’s former spin-doctor sees in Huckabee measures of the magic formula that make a champion politician |
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His two children from the marriage that failed while he was in office as New York's mayor have announced that they will have nothing to do with his campaign. They 'have issues', they explain, with Judy Nathan, the third wife who would come to their home as Giuliani's mistress until ordered out by a judge. Not good.
Meanwhile, according to Adweek magazine, politics is now all about 'branding'. A survey about 'name recognition' - crucial to strong 'branding' - discovered that Hillary Clinton scored 55 per cent while only nine per cent recognised Barack Obama and four per cent John Edwards, all Democrats.
Giuliani led the Republican field with 17 per cent name recognition, and he also scored with the tag 'proven leadership' for his role during 9/11. The Obama brand took a hit for his middle name, Hussein, while Hillary won the tag 'most electable' for 2008.
Huckabee wasn't included in the Adweek survey. But he's in the running now, and he's got a name that won't be forgotten. 
FIRST POSTED MARCH 7, 2007
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