Floats like a butterfly, stings like Huckabee

The dust is settling, and the campaign continues. The dominant explanation for New Hampshire is "the girls did it." No one seems to have any good data to back this up, but never mind. So enough of looking backwards; this campaign is all about the future, and of course, change. The big change yesterday was John Kerry’s endorsement of Obama. I’ll write about this later, and explain why despite Kerry’s dismal reputation, this is great news for Obama. But before that, some visual treats.

Mike Huckabee just launched the best political advert of the election so far. In it we see two things. First, Huckabee has been hailed as a genuinely gifted communicator. He may be even better than that. His delivery in this piece is almost perfect. It has the feel of Reagan. Second, we see him launch one of the sharpest barbs, aimed obviously at Mitt Romney. Watch the video right to the end—the jibe is worth it. Then, just in case you are left wondering why Huckabee is doing well, also watch this piece—perhaps the sharpest parody of the campaign to date, and this time one in which Huckabee takes the hit. The punchline—“Mike Huckabee: Not a crook, a weirdo, or a Mormon”—perfectly sums up the other half of his appeal. The voters of Iowa liked it. But will the oddly named Michiganders bite also?