What Mike Huckabee's schedule really reveals

You can tell a lot by a politician's schedule, which may be why Hillary Clinton's first lady schedule and documents are still locked in the Clinton presidential library. It's probably why Vice President Cheney never got around to releasing his meeting schedule on those long-ago energy consultations.

When you're a candidate, a daily schedule can reveal your whereabouts, goals and political intentions, which can attract protesters, tip off opponents on what you're up to or provide insight on how hard you're working some days. Which is why most presidential campaigns release schedules only a few days in advance, largely to obtain media coverage. And they intentionally leave time gaps, which usually means they're secretly wooing someone for money or support in person or by phone.

Mike Huckabee's schedule this year, for instance, has consistently revealed a reliance on free media appearances, which typically reach a broad audience, allow him to project his genial on-air personality (honed, not accidentally, by his long radio experience) and, did we mention, such free appearances don't cost him any money. 

Sunday, for instance, by sitting in a Des Moines chair for 30 minutes, Huckabee reached an influential national television audience on "Meet the Press," allowing him to charge his main Iowa opponent, Mitt Romney, with "running a very desperate and, frankly, dishonest campaign," which on a slow news day allowed Huckabee to generate gobs of further free news stories across the nation. Then he went to church and, out of sight, taped some last-minute campaign ads.

This likely reflects the former governor's weak fundraising. The fourth quarter doesn't end until midnight tonight, so it'll be a couple of weeks before each campaign's official figures...

...become public through Federal Election Commission filings. Huckabee, like most candidates, has been quite circumspect about recent fundraising. But one indication of financial need is that, again according to his schedule, last week after his heavily photographed morning Iowa pheasant hunt and much-quoted rhetorical shot at Romney, he quietly zipped off to Florida for some fundraisers, not what candidates dream of doing the last week before the Iowa caucus.

A shortage of money could seriously limit any bounce from a strong caucus showing Thursday night by Huckabee, who trails badly in New Hampshire polls.

Interestingly, only Ron Paul, the largely-overlooked Republican candidate with the libertarian ideals, is boasting specifically of his fourth quarter fundraising, which has surpassed $19 million, according to his website. This could make him the most successful GOP fundraiser October-December. In the third quarter Paul raised $5 million, five times Huckabee's total.

Here's Huckabee's announced schedule for today:

6:05 a.m. -- Interview on NBC's "The Today Show."

6:30 a.m. -- Interview on CNN's "American Morning."

6:45 a.m. -- Interview on "Fox and Friends."

7:30 a.m. -- Morning run at Gray's Lake, Des Moines.

Noon  -- Hosts press conference at Downtown Marriott.

12:30 p.m. -- Stops by campaign headquarters to thank volunteers.

2:15 p.m. -- Goes for a haircut at Executive Forum Barber, 519 Locust Ave.

5:30 p.m. -- Attends New Year's Eve party with supporters.

Notice anything about the schedule? Unless Huckabee's paying $400 for his haircuts like someone else we know, it's a very cheapo campaign day. The only real expense is the Marriott room rental.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Jared]

If Huck dropped the Neocon fascism platform he may have a chance. Until then he sounds like a Commie

[Joey]

Come on Malcolm, you can surely put your grey hair and the grey matter underneath it to better use than to heap rubbish views on a person doing his best to manage a low-funded campaign ..

(Joey, Joey, Joey--What are we to do with someone who doesn't read the words on the page?)

[Black Immigrant]

I don't always agree with everything Paul says, but at this point ANY vote against Ron Paul is a vote FOR Komrad Clinton and big government. The fake Republicans (Romney,Giuliani,McCain,Huckabee) don't stand a chance. Their views lost in the midterm election and they will lose in the presidential election. America needs a change of course, a return to constitutional government, and that is what Ron Paul represents. Lets face it the radical fringe ideas are coming from the so called "top tier" candidates in the Republican party. Gearing up to bomb a country that has done nothing to you, is a pretty radical idea. America following the constitution, in other words America acting like America is not an unusual idea. Ron Paul can and will win, there's just no two ways about it. The support for ACTUAL conservatism in this country is too strong. Everytime I see writers try to bash Paul,the American constitution, and therefore America it just simply re-affirms in my mind that Paul is probably going to win. The poll numbers are simply flat out wrong.

On a side note;

'If Huck dropped the Neocon fascism platform he may have a chance. Until then he sounds like a Commie'

why on earth would you pick a public forum to demonstrate that you have no idea what communism is? Beats me.....

[jenny]

By Huckabee's schedule one can come to the conclusion that he is frugal and makes the most out of every penny given to him by supporters. I am voting for Huckabee and one of the reasons is that he can make a little money go along way and he will do that in Washington too..Now Romney has been throwing money around like it is scrap paper good example of how he will spend money in washington..

[Ian]

Gee, it sounds as though Mr. Huckabee is deficient because he's not out there spending other peoples' money! Might be because, unlike Mr. Romney who amassed millions by gaming the tax system for clients (according to LA Times's own Bob Drogin at http://snipr.com/romneyoffshore ) and fee-milking acquired companies prior to firing workers and taking them into bankruptcy, Mr. Huckabee was spending time working on problems of constituents in his state and educating himself about how the tax code should be replaced by the FairTax ( http://snipr.com/nextrung ) in order that opportunists like Romney aren't given unfair advantage by virtue of an abstruse and corrupt tax code.

[RP Supporter]

Just 40 years ago a coke or a cup of coffee costs 10 cents, a gallon of gas costs 30 cents, a new car costs $2,500 and a new house cost $25,000. Today a coke or cup of coffee is over $1.00, gas is $3.00, the new car cost is about $25,000 and the new single family house averages $250,000 or more. Over the last 40 years, prices for all these commodities have increased by a factor of about 10 times or more.

This means that in the last 40 years, the dollar has lost 90% of its purchasing power. Today you need $10.00 to pay for what you use to be able to buy for $1.00.

Why has the US $ lost 90% of its value? Because in the last 40 years the Federal Reserve has printed increasing amounts of paper money to fund excessive government spending for wars and welfare programs – and this paper money has no gold backing. The result has been constant inflation.

The US is on the brink of a financial catastrophe. The dollar is in freefall on foreign exchange markets and there are increasing signs that governments and investors around the world are looking for alternative currencies to use for investment vehicles. The US government is in debt to Foreign Governments a total of over 2.3 Trillion dollars and that borrowed money has been spent on wars and welfare (yes – that’s 2.3 TRILLION dollars). And these foreign governments are not all friends – almost $700 billion is owed to China and the Oil Exporting Countries in the Middle East.

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that is discussing this coming financial collapse and understands the incredible economic dangers we face.

[sha]

PRESIDENT MIKE HUCKABEE / VICE PRESIDENT JOHN MCCAIN 2008

Romney is a flip flopping flake, I just found out that he has stock in all of the companies that are major promoters of homosexual rights & abortions, he is not going to do anything to these companies or the procedures but try to implement things that would advance them another example of how eloquent speaking politicians are embedded within Wall Street! HE IS ANOTHER WALL STREET CANDIDATE!all this rhetoric is follishnes and an intent denial to dismiss truth. The Demo-wacks have had control over congress for 2 years now and have done NOTHING but fund pork barrel projects and have not come close to making any kind of real progress that the promised their poor demo-wack supporters. There credibility is SHOT! and as for Huckabee... People fear that he will win, which he is... At this point I will vote for anybody other than a Demowack. i am so frustrated that I have changed party position and will vote Repub this year.I am so proud of Huckabee i do not know what to do. He is a man of principle and he surely just sealed the deal with my vote. He will win and big he will, and while the pundits try to demise him, or his other political rivals try to make him look bad. They may want to look at the mirror at themselves. You got flip flopping mitt, dead fred who makes me sleepy everytime I look at the him and his saddle bags around his eyes, pimped out guiliani , small brain mccain, and “paul is crazy and deranged”! And as for the Dems: you got Hell-ary that have sold her soul to the left party lobbyist in america, and you got chronic smoking Obama? which neither one has ANY experience in foreign policy. If it was not for Hell-ary having bill clinton last name, she would not even be known. Huckabee is the sure winner and will win big. I can not wait for romney to get out of the race. i bet he will go back to hiring illegals to work in his yard. check more out about him at www.massresistance.org he is the biggest flake since kellogs!

[Chris]

Huckabee is a hard working guy. He lost 100 pounds. This guy has stamina. He has charisma. He has leadership in his veins. He should chose Ron Paul as his buddy if he wins it all.

[James]

Mitt is a liar .... www.trueromney.com

[Chris]

Mike Huckabee is a real hard working politician. Not that lazy bone Fred typo. Plus he lost 100 pounds He has charisma and wit. If he only would fight against the establishment and their Neocon houndies like Ron Paul he would be unstoppable.

[Joe777]

If Huck was such a rockstar of a candidate why isn't he raising money? His evangelical base should be used to doling out for a minister. The fact is that while pro-lifers love Huck he's a disgrace on other issues. Crime,immigration,taxes,foreign policy and personal pocket lining while Gov. of Ark. the worst they have on Romney is some policy shifts and campaign puffery. Huck has created his own problems by overplaying the religious card. He critisized Bush on foreign policy.He dissed Rush Limbaugh.He was flatfooted on the Pakistan issue. He said 660 Pakistanis snuck across the border last year and he got the figures from the CIA. Turns out it was over 4 years and he read it in the Denver Post. Now there's a story out today that McCain may be in the pocket of corporate bundlers.

[Dan Campbell]

Mike Huckabee has my complete support. This is the first chance we have had in a very long time, to have a leader who is for "the people" of America

All of the negative attack ads will not change Mike's proven leadership record. As everyone has seen, Mike Huckabee has surged to number one in the polls. When people hear him speak, they understand why he is the right choice to be the next President of the United States.

God bless Mike. If "we Americans" stick together, our country will move ahead stronger than ever with Mike leading it.

I endorse Mike Huckabee.

Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC

[drewnels]

So it is bad if a candidate does not buy his votes but rather earns them with his character, views, and reputation? I am saddened by people who vote for someone because they have more money. A bought friendship is not worth much when the going gets tough.

(Who said it was bad? It's a revealing story about his financial situation.)

[James A.]

Actually, what is revealing about this is that Huckabee would be absolutely nowhere if the media hadn't (just all of a sudden) decided to give him a free ride and talk about him incessantly. He is getting more "free media" than any other candidate and his "surge" was the DIRECT result of that.

Why did this happen so suddenly? THAT'S the story I want to know more about; who's behind this? Unfortunately if it is the "liberal media" doing it entirely on their own, it is because they realize Huckabee will get spanked in the general by just about any Dem that will easily run to the right of him.

I used to like Huckabee until I learned more about him. He is only SLIGHTLY to the right of Giuliani. And the media tried to push Giuliani on us. When they realized that he wasn't sticking, they gave us Huckabee.

[David]

I really couldn't support Huckabee because he leans toward the status quo on things. He seems lost in the federal level. I don't see any changes made with him if elected. As a Christian, I would think he would be peace loving but when he talks he seems to follow Bush's mentality for easy access to war.

[Ward Ciac]

Pastor Huckabee has smote his enemies wherever he goes. He dazzled Tim Russert and left him tongue-tied and throwing softball questions. He has the full support of Evangelicals the world over. He was anointed by the Leadership to take on Goliath. He will smite the Goliath Romney on election day. He will smite the wayward nations who refuse to listen to his powerful word. With his mighty arm he will crush the countries who refuse to yield and bring them to their knees. He will be one of the greatest Christian presidents - perhaps as great as Jimmy Carter. Onward soldiers and lead the way to bring Pastor Huckabee a great victory today! Let him smite his enemies with a mighty blow! Oh, how happy everyone will be when President Huckabee puts Christ back into Christmas!

[Amapola]

Ward Ciac, are you trying to scare people or support Mike Huckabee?

I Mike Huckabee has not been good on immigration. Blue collar jobs matter just as much as white collar jobs. This is where Democrats are total hypocrites when they claim they wasn't to help the poor people of the US while giving all the illegals amnesty, which is what Huckabee wants to do, and has voted for.

If we want to help the poor of Mexico, and the US, we need to get rid of NAFTA, which Huckabee supports . Google it.

Bernie Sanders explains how NAFTA has devastated the poor of Mexico. Bill Clinton Pushed it through, but it is a not free trade it's special trade, written by lobbyists for corporations.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=286851

Ron Paul wants to stop illegal immigration, and get rid of NAFTA.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/american-independence-and-sovereignty
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/border-security-and-immigration-reform

Ron Paul has a thorough understanding of economics and is on the banking committee.

Check out http://inflationtax.blogspot.com

I don't think Huckabee can win because of the reasons listed about, and because he scares the crap out of anyone who isn't a neocon.

Ron Paul attracts Christians, as well as people from all faiths and belief systems. Ron Paul attracts traditional conservatives, as well as people from all other parties who are concerned about the legitimacy of the war in Iraq, the inflation tax, and restoring the Constitution.

Hillary has received the more donations from the weapons industry than any other candidate http://www.alternet.org/story/65869/ supported the Patriot Act and all Obama has actually done is talk about opposing the war and the Patriot Act. Lets see him actually do something.

The only one out of any of them who is trying to restore the Constitution is Ron Paul. Ron Paul, I believe, is the only Republican who could beat a Democrat right now.

[Robert]

Romney is a fake.I would be up for a ticket though that combines McCain and Huckabee.

[almanojodo]

Huckabee is selling snake oil! What a hypocrite! He calls Romney dishonest but cannot name a specific dishonesty. Presidential candidates should be above such childish name calling. Romney has only cited facts on the issues that are a part of the public record!

[Mike]

"Notice anything about the schedule?"

Sure! I notice all the free media coverage Huckabee gets. Today Show, American Morning, and Fox & Friends, all one the one day. Dr Paul has to raise $6M in one day to get that sort of attention. But even then he only gets it for a day.

The Power Elite promoted Giuliani and Romney with free media, and since they have been exposed as pathetic candidates, they have been promoting the heck out of Huckabee and McCain to try to provide other viable alternatives. Unfortunately for them, those candidates are equally pathetic. Dr Paul will prevail DESPITE the MSM, not because of it.

[ArmyVet]

Mike Huckabee said on FoxNews TV today that he still has $2 Million that is unspent. How many other candidates can say that? I know one: Ron Paul.
Personally, I like fiscal conservatism. As a country, we need to stop the unnecessary "pet pork projects that bring home the bacon." It is time to seriously pay off the National Debt, and get our Dollar in order. I think it is time to domestically mine gold. California still has lots of it in the mountains. Franklin Roosevelt (president 1932-1945, known as FDR) set the gold standard at $32 per troy ounce. Now there is no backing to the dollar, and gold is in the $700 per ounce range.