The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

Many folks have been talking up Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as a contender for the conservative vote now that Santorum has declined to run for president in 2008. I think it is an interesting possibility. They both were in Iowa this past weekend making the fund raising rounds and speech circuit. A Lawrence Journal World article described Brownback’s journey.

“All politics pass through here,” Brownback told reporters before his speech.

That means Brownback is passing through Iowa repeatedly. Saturday’s trip, he said, was his third or fourth to the state in recent months. And the trips are packed; he also attended a “meet-and-greet” and an ice cream social before attending the evening dinner.

“I’m trying to find out whether the things I’ve been pushing match what Iowans are interested in,” he said.

Unlike Brownback, Huckabee has not blatantly said he is interested in the presidency. The Associated Press put it this way:

Huckabee says he’ll make a decision in about a year. He says he wants to determine if he has something unique to bring to the discussion.

While both candidates are angling for the Christian Conservative voting bloc, they differ in several major ways. Primarily, Brownback has major foreign policy experience as a result of his time in the senate. As a governor, Mike Huckabee has been able to shout from the sidelines but has never actually participate in foreign policy decisions that effect the United States as a whole. I happen to think that is a good thing. Brownback has chaired hearings on Iranian freedom fighters, brought resolutions regarding Iraq, and has been an active voice for peace in Sudan. Even in the aftermath of a horrible natural disaster, Americans are likely still vulnerable to the terrorism card being played. Brownback is in a position to claim (however falsely) that he has the experience needed to keep Americans safe.

In addition to foreign policy Brownback also has a high profile position on the Senate judicial committee. With two supreme court vacancies, Senator Brownback will have plenty of opportunities for increasing his name recognition. This is a role, that if used properly, could cement his standing among the Christian right. Both Brownback and Huckabee have a name recognition handicap. Only Brownback seems to have a vehicle to lift him into nationwide familiarity.