Check out this latest Iowa poll:
The average of all the polls have Romney at 26.8. It has Huckabee at 24.2. And Giuliani at 12.8.
Considering how much money Romney has poured into Iowa, this is astonishing.
How is this happening? It's pretty simple really. When it comes to his Christianity, Huckabee is the real deal. Naturally being a minister helps, but Huckabee is not afraid to talk the language of faith. As he did here in the YouTube debate:
Sure. I believe the Bible is exactly what it is. It's the word of revelation to us from God himself.
And the fact is that when people ask do we believe all of it, you either believe it or you don't believe it. But in the greater sense, I think what the question tried to make us feel like was that, well, if you believe the part that says "Go and pluck out your eye," well, none of us believe that we ought to go pluck out our eye. That obviously is allegorical.
But the Bible has some messages that nobody really can confuse and really not left up to interpretation. "Love your neighbor as yourself."
And 'as much as you've done it to the least of these brethren, you've done it unto Me.' Until we get those simple, real easy things right, I'm not sure we ought to spend a whole lot of time fighting over the other parts that are a little bit complicated.
And as the only person here on the stage with a theology degree, there are parts of it I don't fully comprehend and understand, because the Bible is a revelation of an infinite God, and no finite person is ever going to fully understand it. If they do, their god is too small.
Compared to Romney's uncomfortable answer and Giuliani's convoluted answer, Huckabee's answer was flawless. It was exactly what most of us Christians believe.
While we don't want a theocracy by any stretch of the imagination, we do want a President of faith. Mainly because we who are Christians understand how important that is in our own lives. We understand how it guides us to be moral and good. It stengthens us when we are weak. It comforts us when we are in despair. It teaches us love, honesty, compassion, and forgiveness. We know all these things would help a President who needs these qualities to lead this country.
For example, if Nixon or Clinton had leaned on faith, they may not have committed the immoral acts they did during their Presidency. If we are a prayerful person we tend to avoid lying and cheating. So you can see why Christians would want a Christian in the White House. Not to impose our beliefs, but to live our beliefs.
Huckabee seems to be taking away Christian support from Romney in Iowa. I think the more independent minded will split between Giuliani and McCain.
If Huckabee wins Iowa, and that is a possibility now, then this will be the most interesting primary in recent history.
It will be an amazing race.
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