Huckabee Rocks Iowa
EmailABC News’ Kevin Chupka reports: With his abbreviated stump speech reduced to a footnote, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rocked the historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on Friday night. The crowd of about 600 supporters were treated to almost three hours of music from Huckabee’s band "Capitol Offense" and special guest Barry Goodreau, long time guitarist for the legendary rock band, Boston. With a set list that included "Born to be Wild", "Jailhouse Rock," and Boston’s anthem, "More Than a Feeling," Huckabee and company had the crowd on their feet from the first note to the last drum beat.
After sharing the campaign’s recent surge in fundraising with his audience, Huckabee and the band launched into "Money (That’s What I Want)." Then while they took a break between sets Huckabee’s wife Janet sought to add to the campaign’s till by officiating an auction. Items up for grabs included autographed posters, books, t-shirts and even a guitar which sold for $700.
While a lot of voting donors helped fill the seats and dance floor there were also a good deal of non-voting teenagers spending their Friday night cheering on a man many of them won’t be able to vote for in the all important January 3rd caucus.
In its heyday the Surf Ballroom played host to all the biggest names in the music business as the rolled across the country. Autographed headshots of Benny Goodman, Ricky Nelson, and Alice Cooper line the walls from generations past. Just before the show began Gov. Huckabee entered Surf Ballroom history by adding his name to the wall of the dressing room where so many before him have scrawled theirs.
Despite a rich history of performers, "The Surf" may be best remembered for its most tragic tale. On a snowy February 2, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson played the last show of their lives before taking off from nearby Mason City airport and crashing in a nearby field early the next morning.
"The Day the Music Died" was far from the minds of the revelers here tonight. Were they witnessing the second pop-music-playing President from Hope, Arkansas? As Huckabee said after the show, "It is (about) the caucus; we have to do well here…it’s in all the early primary states that we have to just put a stake in the ground and show that we’re competitive."
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
Hey does everyone remember when the polls showed brownback ahead of Ron Paul? Yea that was like 2 weeks ago right but, where is brownback now? He is sitting at home out of the Presidential race that’s where he is.
Also, does everyone remember when they said Ron Paul had not a snow balls chance of winning? I do that was like yesterday and today and everyday since this Presidential “race” started. They keep forgetting to mention Ron Paul as a candidate. They leave him out of polls and they censor his supporters at Clinton rallies. I guess I have to ask, if Ron Paul didnt have a chance and doesnt have a chance and isnt a “real” Republican then why censor him? Why not just let him hang himself?
I will tell you why. Every single one of the politicians and extremely rich powerful Elite that run the government from behind the scenes is AFRAID of RON PAUL!! They fear him so much that they have no choice but, to censor his coverage and limit your exposure to him. They are so afraid that you might wake up and realize you are being lied to every day. Everytime you turn on the news owned by Rupert or Turner you are being misled!
Do us all a favor and remember that they said he wouldnt make it this far. Do yourself a favor and choose a candidate based on his merits and morals and achievements not those of his/her husband or based on gender or race.
VOTE RON PAUL!!! SEMPER FI!!!
Posted by: Ezra Mondeva | October 27, 2007, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
The Democratic nomination race may be bitter and divisive, but the Republican contest has become a FARCE! It’s like watching a deadly accident in slow-motion. You KNOW there will be “no survivors”!
Posted by: rmberryman | October 27, 2007, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
With no disrespect to Huckabee intended, go Thompson.
Posted by: jade02008 | October 27, 2007, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
I long to hear Huckabees important campaign issues instead of his music.
Posted by: kmjjp | October 27, 2007, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
Look, Huckabee seems like a pretty nice guy. I disagree with him on a number of issues and that’s ok. But come on, Boston sucks.
Posted by: brent | October 27, 2007, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm
I wonder what music Ron Paul likes?? Oh wait, that doesn’t matter because he is more concerned about following the Constitution!!
Posted by: brent | October 27, 2007, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm
I like Huckabee! I really do! The more I hear of him, the more I like him! What a phenomenal candidate! He was off my radar for a long time and I don’t understand the attraction to Thompson. Hillary’s nomination was locked up from the moment she announced and was only really only challenged by BO. Still, once MoveOn.org mobilized, it was apparent that only a socialist would be nominated and BO was a good challenger, but Hillary is a Clinton and that is insurmountable for him as the progressives just can’t pass up an opportunity to continue the Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, dynasty of disaster. Now they want it to be Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton, Clinton. I doubt our country has ever been this sycophantic in it’s love for a losing proposition and progressives have never been driven harder to take the country further into the clutches into the irreversible clutches of socialism.
Posted by: TexBork | October 27, 2007, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
Go Huck!!!!
Posted by: Ben | October 27, 2007, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
Why do all Ron Paul supporters write the same exact thing? Same guy with 173 screen names? ….. I agree with Huckabee on a lot of issues but not all. I do have one concern. Should we allow a religious leader to have that much power? That has led to a lot of problems in other countries. The last time we elected a religious leader (Woodrow Wilson) we wound up in WW1 and the United Nations. I’m not sure which was worse. A president should have strong belief in a higher power but should he bring his personal beliefs to office? I have the same concerns about Ron Paul who seems to inject his personal religious beliefs too far into his politics. …. I don’t care what religion a candidate practices. My concern is that he might use his office to promote his own faith. …. Wilson did.
Posted by: Royce | October 27, 2007, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Anti-rationalism wackjob, this guy…anyone who openly puts so much faith in, well, faith, to the detriment of rational thought, can NOT be trusted, not with a global super-power; nor a state, city, or precinct. He can go start a church-based organization and make a mint if he wants, but the United States does not need a Mullah.
Posted by: jeremydbrooks | October 27, 2007, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm
jeremydbrooks, Talk about not needing leadership from mullahs and to see Osama calling his forces to action and the response of his domestic insurgents demanding the defeat of the US in Iraq just days later?
Posted by: TexBork | October 28, 2007, 12:31 am 12:31 am
REPUBLICAN and ROCK AND ROLL…a contradiction in terms. Rock and roll is EVERYTHING that Republicans are not. Always has been…always will be.
Posted by: wilder5121 | October 28, 2007, 2:39 am 2:39 am
It really doesn’t matter. Ron Paul won’t get the Republican nomination so he’ll run as a Libertarian. He’ll pull enough votes away from the Republicans to give Hillary the election just as Ross Perot handed it to Bill Clinton. … “A date which shall live in infamy”. I’ll move back to Texas and push for secession. This election is as simple as ABC. Anybody But Clinton.
Posted by: Royce | October 28, 2007, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
Royce…your comment brings to mind the simple ABC that the vast majority of Americans (and the entire rest of the world) have come to know these last seven years: Another Bush Catastrophe.
Posted by: wilder5121 | October 29, 2007, 1:33 am 1:33 am
Huckahack is done with. He’ll never ever win the presidency. People see right through his ultra-conservative, pro-Iraq, Bush copying ways. People are DONE with ultra conservative republicans. They are SICK of them. Got it?
Posted by: m | October 29, 2007, 7:41 am 7:41 am
texbork, you seem to like him because he’s a mirror image of bushie. he’s pro-war, pro ultra conservative cowboy wrapped up in a different package. who cares what you have to say anyway. you’ve already established yourself as right winged repub. you guys are becoming an endangered breed.
Posted by: m | October 29, 2007, 7:44 am 7:44 am
m, Well if the democrats could offer something other than a defeat of the US against terrorism and a promise to fell the country into socialism, I might find something to support about them, but as of right now, there’s not much there to support.
Posted by: TexBork | October 29, 2007, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Huckabee’s gaining Momentum and fast now. I cant wait to see what happens Iowa.
Posted by: Drew | October 29, 2007, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
wilder5121, I’m sure Ted Nugent agrees with your notion. Right? Kid Rock? 3 Doors Down? Wait, no, surely The Ramones must agree with you right?
Posted by: TexBork | October 29, 2007, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Where does Huckabee stand on ILLEGAL imigration?
Posted by: eva | October 30, 2007, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
Eva, Huckabee wants to build the fence to secure our borders 1st and foremost, as well as go after employers that hire llegals. He has stated his strong stance in a number of interviews now.
Posted by: spfldFT | November 8, 2007, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm