Reaching Out to El Rushbo

Somebody in the Huckabee camp made the mistake of insulting the leader of the conservative movement in the U.S., Rush Limbaugh. Rush responded on Friday's show and basically ripped the Huckabee camp a well-deserved new one. Whoever made the original comments clearly has not been paying attention.

Some are questioning whether the Huckabee campaign can survive the shellacking it got on Friday's program. Huckabee is trying to stop the bleeding:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The best-talking Republican politician in America has a message for the best-talking conservative voice in the country: Let's talk to one another.

Mike Huckabee, taking questions from reporters after a town hall meeting here, responded to the torrent of criticism that Rush Limbaugh unleashed during his broadcast yesterday by turning the other cheek — and then heaping on the praise.

"I love Rush Limbaugh; I've always loved his show," Huckabee assured. "I think he’s been great for the conservative movement."

The former Arkansas governor conceded that he hadn't sought Limbaugh out to set the record straight — but that he would like to.

"I don’t have his number," Huckabee explained. "If you have it, Jonathan, why don’t you give it to me. I’d love to talk to him."

Governor, here's the info you're looking for: 1-800-282-2882 or elrushbo@eibnet.com

I'm starting to see signs that the attacks on Huckabee by Romney are actually driving some voters to Fred Thompson and not to Romney has he had intended. Rush was very complimentary about Romney's "Mormon" speech, but he hasn't shown a lot of enthusiasm for him otherwise. I wonder if Rush's blast at Huckabee might drive more conservatives to consider Thompson again.

I know I am. Especially after this and this. Patrick Ruffini says Thompson is hitting Iowa hard - no more Lazy Fred. I no longer think a Thompson win in Iowa is out of the question, no matter what the polls show right now. Let's not forget that in 2004 the polls had Howard Dean the clear leader and he came in third.