Romney’s Crowd Dwarfed by Huckabee’s at Same Ottumwa Venue

By Dien Judge 12/30/07 12:25 AM

If a candidate’s ability to draw a crowd on the weekend before the Iowa caucus is any indication, Mike Huckabee has a lot to smile about.

The former Arkansas governor spoke to hundreds of potential Republican caucus-goers in Ottumwa Friday night, nearly filling the large auditorium in this southeast Iowa community’s Bridge View Center.
The crowd was estimated at more than 500 who laughed and cheered throughout the evening’s presentation.

The next day, in that same Ottumwa building, Huckabee’s main rival for the Republican nomination couldn’t muster nearly as many supporters. A far smaller crowd gathered to hear former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Romney’s event was held in a smaller meeting room at the Bridge View Center, and there was room to spare.

This Iowa Independent video shows the size of the crowds at the two Ottumwa events:

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Curious George

Huckabee is not Nationally Viable "Huckabee? We [Democrats] should be so lucky." -Veteran Democrat Strategist and Adviser Susan Estrich, 12/28/08

"Mike Huckabee gets enough demerits to fall into my not-reasonable column." -Veteran Republican Speechwriter (for Ronald Reagan) and Wall Street Journal Columnist Peggy Noonan

"Republicans should understand that his nomination would move the party left on foreign and economic issues.... The other two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson, stand closer to traditional Republican views." -Veteran Politico and Principal Author of the Almanac of American Politics Michael Barone, 12/21/08

"Liberals take a perverse pleasure in touting Huckabee because they know he will give them everything they want -- big government and a Christian they can roll." -Ann Coulter, 12/26/08

"As far as I can tell, it's mostly secular liberals swooning over Huckabee. Liberals adore Huckabee because he fits their image of what an evangelical should be: stupid and easily led." -Ann Coulter, 12/19/08

Are you Huckabee people kidding me?

ccavanau

I was at both events. I was at both the Huckabee blast and the Rommey snooze. What a difference. People that come to hear Mike Huckabee were excited, energized and passionate about their man. The staff was friendly helpful and well-organized. Very good avenue to collect names of supporters, answer questions and excite Huck's base.

Saturday, my husband and I went to hear Mitt Rommney speak. We had never heard him before and were curious and anxious to listen to him. What a disappointment. He seemed tired, bored and seemed to prepare his supporters for defeat. He said "I can't predict the future, but we might come in third in Iowa, maybe second or even first, but maybe third." How demoralizing is that. No one wants to hear their coach say they might be 'second loser.'

Yes, I was a Huckabee supporter before either event, but the contrast between the two men made the choice even more appealing. Huck is warm, positive, funny, and dead-on right when its needed.

Dan

Taxachusetts I run a business in tax free NH. We have no sales tax and no income tax. We are just over the border from Massachusetts which we commonly refer to as "Taxachusetts". I find it hard to believe that Romney is playing the tax issue against Huckabee! You talk about a fake! This guy doesn't tell the truth about anything. Abortion, he changes his mind depending on what he's running for. Guns, he joined the NRA this year and claims to have hunted his whole life. He has never had a hunting license. Give me a break! It's Huckabee for me

Romney’s Crowd Dwarfed by Huckabee’s at Same Ottumwa Venue

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