Well, we know one more piece of the primary puzzle this morning: Mike Huckabee still isn’t a serious contender. Despite having positive momentum after the Ames Straw Poll that the other candidates only dream about, he only managed to turn it into $1 million in fundraising. That’s better that the three quarters of a million he raised last quarter, but nowhere near enough to be competitive with the top four. From the Arkansas News Bureau:
The thought was that Huckabee could take his surprise second-place finish in August’s Iowa straw poll, which he claimed launched his candidacy into the top tier, and raise loads of campaign cash in September. That didn’t happen.
Why is raising money so difficult for a man who recently has shown so much promise? Those who have worked for him through the years contend that he dislikes the repetition of making phone calls asking for money. Unlike other campaigns, where some presidential candidates boast of their ability to raise large sums of money, Huckabee does not view himself as the campaign’s chief fundraiser. Instead he prefers to think of himself as the operation’s chief marketer charged with delivering the message.
A person very close to the campaign recently joked that Huckabee would rather be in front of a camera talking to a small audience today than raising money that would buy much-needed television advertising for tomorrow.
So here’s your standings… and yes, we are still waiting on those Rudy and Romney numbers (not to mention Brownback’s numbers)…
Republicans
Thompson – $8
McCain – $5
Paul – $3
Huckabee – $1
Democrats
Clinton – $22
Obama – $19
Edwards – $7
Richardson – $5.2
Biden – $1.9
Dodd – $1.5
[UPDATE: The Fix is reporting Huckabee had just $600,000 cash on hand at the end of the third quarter.]
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:01 am
Ouch.
That’s bad, and far worse than my worse fears.
As a Huckabee supporter (and I’ve donated some myself) I have to say this is an opportunity squandered. For crying out loud, Dodd beat him by 50%!!!
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 am
This is a disappointing figure if true.
Huckabee’s limiting factor so far has been a lack of funds. That doesn’t appear to be improving.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
econ grad stud: ‘Huckabee’s limiting factor so far has been a lack of funds. ‘
Huckabee’s limiting factor has been the fact that he has taxed Arkansans (?) to death, no wonder they don’t have any money to contribute to his campaign.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
Our republican nominee will have to be a serious fund raiser to even have a prayer against the liberals. Clinton & Obama’s numbers are impressive. If you have support, that support will donate and fund raise.
It is clear from these numbers where the support is, and where the support is not. I must admit, these numbers are depressing..
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
It could be better, but to his advantage, he does not spend money like the “top four” do. I think he will pull in more money after this month’s debates.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
MWS: ‘As a Huckabee supporter ‘
Why doesn’t that surprise me?
‘ (and I’ve donated some myself)’
I commend you for wasting money on a certain loser, instead of giving to a nutcase who has a reasonable chance of winning. There is not better way to dilute your financial (heh, we’re talking about Huckabee-supporters here) and voting power.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
Matt C,
If Huckabee’s lack of funds is killing him, why is he the only Republican rising in the polls?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
Actually it does appear to be improving. He has been raising money this quarter but he has been
scheduling fundraisers for the fourth quarter. I don’t even think they have many dates open for
more. A friend of mine was at one last night that pulled in over $100,000 and her take on it was that
the crowd was only getting started in raising for Huckabee. And to say that his numbers in dollar figures are not enough to even compete with the top four is silly. He is competing with them and he has proven that his message not his money are what is going to propel him forward. He can do far more with far less than other candidates, but I think it is part strategic to wait until the fourth qauter to make his big fundraising push, so while others count him out he comes in a surprises them with a big bounce in fundraising that is not to be reported until after the first
primary and cascus but after he has gone in and done really well in them. I guess my advice is this, Don’t count Huckabee out just yet, I think he may be just about ready to take off.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
“I commend you for wasting money on a certain loser, instead of giving to a nutcase who has a reasonable chance of winning.”
Awakened,
Maybe some people don’t want nutcases like Rudy, Romney, McCain, and Fred?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:21 am
http://www.newyorkforhuckabee.blogspot.com
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:21 am
James is right:
Huckabee’s numbers are increasing. He had a big fundraiser last weekend and has another one this weekend. As soon as he gets the nod (which he will) from the Conservative Christian leaders, expect the money to roll in. I am sure he will get more after voters hear him speak at the GOP debate next week.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:22 am
How accurate is that estimate?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:23 am
James Boulder: ‘Don’t count Huckabee out just yet, I think he may be just about ready to take off.’
Didn’t the Hindenburg take off?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 am
Peter: ‘Maybe some people don’t want nutcases like Rudy, Romney, McCain, and Fred?’
And you’re from New York? Nice to know that the Northeast is also inhabited by the likes of you. Anyway, anyone who would call these candidates nutcases is likely to be a nutcase himself. Or can you explain why they are nutcases (unlikely)?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:29 am
That proves it…Awakened is a Nazi…Hindenburg=Nazi….oh wait…thats the kind of logic
that he would use…hmmm…
Huck’s #s are moving up…all he needs is 3 million on hand by mid Nov and that # is very attainable…
He just needs enough to compete in Iowa, NH, and SC with some competetive ads for a few weeks
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 am
I’m listening to Huckabee on Glenn Beck’s show right now.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:31 am
Idoititic remarks from ‘Awakened’:
“Huckabee’s limiting factor has been the fact that he has taxed Arkansans (?) to death, no wonder they don’t have any money to contribute to his campaign.”
Arkansas has lower income/sales/property taxes than Massachusetts and New York City. So you’re either ignorant or just don’t care much about honesty.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:32 am
Real Deal:
You did not mention all the supporters that were paid by Romney at the straw poll . . .
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:33 am
Econ grad stud and GOP make great points…
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:36 am
Rett: ‘That proves it…Awakened is a Nazi…Hindenburg=Nazi….oh wait…thats the kind of logic
that he would use…hmmm…’
HAHAHAHAHAHA, not even the fake arguments you use are valid. I didn’t say that I am the Hindenburg, I said that the Huckabee campaign can be compared with the Hindenburg. If someone is a Nazi for being associated with the Hindenburg, it’s Huckabee. Obviously, that’s absolute nonsense, since their wretched fall will be the only similarity, but that’s besides the point. You clearly don’t have the necessary intelligence to participate in politics. I shrudder to think that people like you can vote.
‘Huck’s #s are moving up…’
Slowly but surely. He’ll be able to win the primary by June of 2016.
‘He just needs enough to compete in Iowa, NH’
A Southerner who is at odds with New Hampshire’s politics will not be able to win there.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:37 am
econ grad stud: ‘Arkansas has lower income/sales/property taxes than Massachusetts and New York City. So you’re either ignorant or just don’t care much about honesty.’
You’re either igorant or you don’t know when someone is joking. In any case, I’m sure that the the tax-hiking Huckster is deeply saddened that taxes in Arkansas are that low – that means it can’t be spent on the social programs he loves.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:37 am
Remember W won twice – hardly liberal enough for NH
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 am
By the way, Rett, did you say that ‘Hindenburg’ was a Nazi?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
The answer is the FAIR TAX
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:02 am
Awakened…hahaha…your just funny dude…I get on here just to read your wacko junk…It’s hilarious
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:08 am
egs — “Arkansas has lower income/sales/property taxes than Massachusetts and New York City. So you’re either ignorant or just don’t care much about honesty.”
Deceptive as usual. This is simply due to the ingrained liberal culture that already pervaded NYC and Massachusetts. It had nothing to do with Rudy or Romney, which is what you were trying to imply. Lovely pathos, but it has no grounding in reality if we’re trying to compare Rudy and Huckabee.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:10 am
Rett: ‘Awakened…hahaha…your just funny dude…I get on here just to read your wacko junk…It’s hilarious’
I fear that the ‘junk’ is inside your head, it’s impossible for you to get away from it. But tell me, was ‘Hindenburg’ a Nazi? And who/what was he/it?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Come on man…I know all about the Hindenburg blowing up…blah blah blah…a blimp…da da da…
your hilarious…
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:24 am
rett: ‘Come on man…I know all about the Hindenburg blowing up’
Ah, so you know at least *something*. That’s a start.
‘…blah blah blah…a blimp…da da da…’
Yet you claimed that ‘Hindenburg’ is a Nazi. Obviously, a blimp can’t be a Nazi. So I assumed that you were talking about the last President of the Weimar Republic, Paul von Hindenburg. But he was not a Nazi. I guess the fact that you’re so horribly ill-informed and can’t talk your way out of a paper bag (as your buddy would put it) explains the fact that you are supporting the Huckster.
‘your hilarious…’
So is your knowledge of English grammar. Is it safe to assume that you’re not William Shakespeare resurrected?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
hahaha…funny…funny….
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
Huck has does impressivley well at the previous debates and yet the money hasn’t been coming in, why will next week’s debate change that?
Huck is a potential VP, he should step aside so that we can have a legitimate look at the potential Pres. candidates. It would be nice for the Top 4 or 3 (Thompson is a bust) to actually debate the issues, so that people can actually get to know the candidates and their positions. That way the politicians might actually have to present some positions on various topics and not simply 30 sec. tid bits that stir people’s emotions.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:49 am
ilfigo: ‘Huck is a potential VP’
I had no idea the position of Vice President at Comedy Central is vacant. Since when?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 am
He could be a good pick for Giuliani…possible to convince the IDIOTIC Religious Right not to fail in creating a 3rd party. Its either Huck or Ron Paul, your choice! jk
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 am
ilfigo: ‘possible to convince the IDIOTIC Religious Right not to fail in creating a 3rd party.’
Not a chance. They would create a third party even if Jesus himself came back to earth and told them not to. “This Jesus fellow is a heretic. We need to save him by informing him of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!”
‘Its either Huck or Ron Paul, your choice! jk’
I assume that ‘jk’ stands for ‘just kidding’? I’ll have to agree then, both of them are jokers.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Wow, why does Huckabee suck so bad? All I ever hear is that this guy has a lot of promise. Must just be nice talk becausee that is pathetic. He thinks he can take on hillary? who is he kidding.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
1 million,
Ouch.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:20 pm
There will be an “I told you so” at the end of the month.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:13 pm
“I told you so” what? at the end of what month?
the Huckster’s chance has passed. I hope nobody picks him for VP because then he would be in line to run for president. Like I said, we don’t need another big governmetn conservative again. 8 years of it has been enough.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Paul just announced that he raised 5 million with that much on hand.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I just can’t believe how bad huckabee is at raising money. it is astounding to me. what is going on there?
He should start taxing his supporters for some dough. it worked for him in arkansas.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Paul raised $5 mil, not $3 mil. Source: http://www.ronpaul2008.com
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Apparently the Religious right hasn’t picked Huckabee.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:32 pm
[...] http://race42008.com/2007/10/03/huckabee-raises-1-million/ [...]
October 4th, 2007 at 7:50 am
[...] Huckabee, coming off of his Iowa straw poll “win” raises only $1 million. It’s the votes that count, but if you can’t pay for field staff and ads then you [...]
October 4th, 2007 at 11:12 am
He raised over $160,000 in the past 3 days.