Huckabee Gets First Legislative Endorsements But Romney Leads

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee picked up his first three Iowa legislative endorsements yesterday.  But Mitt Romney, who leads in most polls of Iowa Republicans, also has a commanding lead in legislative endorsements.

Sixteen of the state’s 63 Republican legislators, including House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, are backing Romney.  That’s double the number of his nearest rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.  And as McCain’s support has slipped, he’s also suffered some defections from former supporters.

A year ago this month, McCain’s Straight Talk America PAC announced a 13 member “Iowa Legislative Advisory Team.”  The day after that announcement, one member, Rep. Dave Heaton of Mt. Pleasant, announced that he had not made an endorsement and did not plan to.  Since that time, three of the remaining 12 — Rich Anderson, Dave Tjepkes and Doug Struyk — have switched to Romney.  (Switching sides wasn’t a first for Struyk, who jumped ship from the Democratic Party in 2004.)  Another ex-McCain supporter, Sen. Mark Zieman, is one of two Sam Brownbackers in the Legislature.

Three senators have endorsed Rudy Giuliani.  All three — Jeff Angelo, Thurman Gaskill and Mary Lundby — are leaving the Legislature after next year.

Late starter Fred Thompson has yet to get formal backing from an Iowa legislator.  Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul are also batting oh-fer thus far.Since it’s baseball playoff time, a box score is in order.

And you can’t tell those players without a scorecard.