Huckabee does himself no 2012 favors with IFPC speech

In 2008, businessman Bob Vanderplaats was one of Mike Huckabee's major supporters here in Iowa. Now Vanderplaats is running for governor- and Huckabee is repaying that loyalty, having endorsed Vanderplaats for the job and campaigning for him here.

Huck's recent visit to the state that ignited his 2008 presidential bid has, however, raised two problems for his hopes for a repeat victory in the 2012 Iowa Caucuses. First, Vanderplaats is probably going to lose the primary to former Gov. Terry Branstad, who will almost certainly go on to defeat unpopular incumbent Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in November (the polls currently show Branstad leading Culver by anywhere from 16 to 20 points; Vanderplaats also leads Culver, though his lead is within most polls' margin of error).

Even more serious than alienating the man who will probably be Iowa's Republican governor in 2012, however, is the damage Huckabee probably did himself by speaking at a fundraiser for the Iowa Family Policy Center, which has publicly stated that while it will support Vanderplaats if he should upset Branstad in the Republican primary, it will not support Branstad if he wins. Huckabee thus has damaged himself not only with Branstad, but with the state party whose ticket Branstad will almost certainly lead this November.

Huckabee retains a strong cadre of support here in Iowa. But the kind of Republicans most motivated to turn out in the cold of a January night to kick off the search for Barack Obama's opponent are apt to remember Huckabee's support of a group that sat on its hands rather than support the party's nominee for governor two years earlier. Loyalty to Vanderplaats for his support of Huckabee's 2012 candidacy Branstad supporters like yours truly can understand, and even admire; raising money for a group has already stated that it will not support its almost certain nominee for governor is another matter.

HT: The Beanwalker