News of the day on the GOP race

Mike Huckabee has indeed gathered some momentum from his 2nd place finish in the Iowa straw poll---see for example the Washington Post, where D.C. politics insider David Broder is touting his chances in his latest column. Broder suggests Huckabee's populism leavened with social conservatism could help him pull a surprise in the New Hampshire primary, a la Pat Buchanan in '92 and '96. We'll see. Meanwhile, Fred Thompson shook hands in Iowa, amid more media fretting about his delayed official entry into the race. Actually, it seems clear that Thompson's gamble of waiting to announce his entry into the race has paid off. He's still high in the polls; and meanwhile waiting these extra months has shielded him from criticism. Now, does he lack the organization to ultimately win? And, more importantly, once he does announce and has to be out there making speeches and facing the press every single day on the campaign trail, what will happen to him momentum? I wonder. But I'm glad he's in the race; the more solid, good candidates with ideas, the merrier.