As Cohn observes, Huck's strongest appeal is to evangelicals, voters for whom an activist, old-style Protestantism is central. Having had a show on Fox News for several years has built his name recognition and conservative bona fides. Cohn concludes:
Mr. Huckabee is a classic factional candidate: someone whom the rest of the party would almost certainly rally to defeat if he seemed within striking distance of the nomination, but whose strength among a large faction of the party allows him to play a crucial, even possibly decisive, role in the race.If he is wins a substantial number of delegates, it could cause the frontrunners to shape their messages to co-opt some of his issue positions. It might even land him a vice presidential bid.
