“Well, he is not afraid to say, ‘Merry Christmas,’” Gary Thies of Mapleton said when asked why he’s supporting Huckabee.
December 24, 2007 1:28 pm Christian Right and GOPJonathan Martin, Huckabee runs as GOP rebel, Politico.com, December 24, 2007
SHELDON, Iowa - To spend a day with Mike Huckabee on the campaign trail is to hear echoes of his three insurgent predecessors.
He has the fervent evangelical following in this state that Pat Robertson had in 1988, he deploys populist rhetoric like Pat Buchanan and, just like John McCain eight years ago, he is not afraid to diverge from party orthodoxy in speaking to Republican audiences….
“Well, he is not afraid to say, ‘Merry Christmas,’” Gary Thies of Mapleton said when asked after the Sioux City event why he’s supporting Huckabee.
And why is that important?
“Because that’s the most important thing in my life,” Thies responds with an icy glare. “That’s what we’re doing here. Those are the principles that made this country great.”…
His supporters are unmistakably Christian conservatives.
The boys are typically dressed in their Sunday best, the girls wear modest, ankle-length dresses, and the parents offer Christmas blessings after speaking with a reporter.
“It has the feel of a revival meeting,” George Schneidermann explained after Huckabee’s appearance in Orange City.