Ed Rollins: Huckabee Will Win Iowa

Political Players: Campaign Chairman Says His Candidate Is Most Like Reagan

(CBS)  Political Players is a weekly conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. This week, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with Ed Rollins, the former Reagan political director, who signed on last week as national chairman of the surging Mike Huckabee presidential campaign.

CBSNews.com: Let’s start with the attacks on Governor Huckabee from a lot of Republican establishment figures lately. Rush Limbaugh has called him “the Huckster.” Rich Lowry, the editor of the National Review, has said it would be suicide to nominate him. Why do you think he's provoking all of this criticism?

Ed Rollins: Well, I think first of all he is not an establishment candidate. I don't think anybody anticipated early on when he started to run that he would do as well as he's doing. Some of these guys have picked other candidates.

And I think, to a certain extent, the alleged wise men have sat around in either the studios, or the newsrooms, basically writing magazine articles. They didn't see it coming and I think they underestimated him.

CBSNews.com: Does he threaten them?

Ed Rollins: Well, I think he's not their candidate. You know some of them obviously are with McCain. Some of them are obviously with Romney. And I think at the end of the day Mike is a guy who basically was a very effective governor.

You can look at his record. It's a record of accomplishment. He didn't use the governor's office to just purely run for president. He wanted to fix mistakes and do things that are meaningful. And I think the thing they challenge him on is not really about his record.

CBSNews.com: But, as you know, Romney is running a number of attack ads in Iowa about your candidate’s record. The latest is focused on crime-and Huckabee’s pardons and commutations. And Huckabee's trying to turn that around by saying, the only reason Romney didn’t issue any is that he’s so political. Do you think the voters are going to buy that?

Ed Rollins: Well, I think to a certain extent the governor has had to explain what it is that he did. I mean, I think most people don't realize that everybody who's in prison in Arkansas has the option of appealing to the governor to get their sentence commuted or pardoned. It's an automatic state law, which it isn't in other places.

Most places the initiative comes from the governor or the president or what have you. But in Arkansas it's a state law that prisoners actually get to have that right. More than 8,000 applied to have their sentences commuted.

Mike read every single one. He made decisions on people that he thought had basically been rehabilitated. It wasn't like he opened up the prisons and sent everybody home. And I don't think anybody's ever said that.

No, it's about statistics. And there's a lot of statistics on Romney that we could fire back on, but we've chosen at this point in time not to do that. We certainly reserve that right.

CBSNews.com: What's your view of Romney’s record?

Ed Rollins: The irony to me is that if Romney thought he was such a great governor, why he is not talking about being a governor? Why didn’t he run for a second term? He was losing badly [in the polls] to a couple of Democrats.

He spent most of his last year out of state campaigning. He made it very clear in the New York Times, even before he'd ever been elected to an office, he wanted to run for president. And after having been defeated for Senate in 1994, I think he just basically was out looking for an office to get a hold of.

And the day he got inaugurated he started running for president. He's not the first man to ever do that, but I think Mike Huckabee tried to be a good governor and fix the problems of Arkansas.

CBSNews.com: And so what's your opinion of Romney not issuing any pardons or commutations?

Ed Rollins: My view is it was a political decision. I think Romney basically has changed his position on many, many things because he sees it as more politically doable. It's like you take a pollster and you sit down and say, "Tell me what the primary voters want." Not what I've done in the past. "Tell me what the primary voters want and that's what I'll do."

You know he shifts his positions on so many things. And to a certain extent, he's somewhat misleading. He said on Meet the Press last weekend he got the NRA endorsement when he ran [for governor]. It turns out he didn't. So there's just all kinds of little things that he spins.

And he's got a good campaign team. And obviously they thought they had this thing in the bag months ago. And they've spent an exorbitant sum of his own money, not money that he's raised. And I think he sees Mike as a very serious threat.

CBSNews.com: What's your reaction to the photo that came out this week of Mitt Romney at the Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 1994?

Ed Rollins: I mean all these guys have said, "Well, that's where I was then and that's why I'm in a different place today. And I made mistakes. I did this. I did that."

You know, at the end of the day, usually people develop their ideology before they get to be 60 years old. It's just all so political at this point in time.

CBSNews.com: But the Romney people would argue that Ronald Reagan, whom you served as political director and campaign manager, changed his positions.

Ed Rollins: Let me tell you the Ronald Reagan story. The Ronald Reagan story which they have used over and over again is totally untrue. First of all, Roe vs. Wade had not occurred yet [during his early years as governor]. Ronald Reagan was never pro-choice.

Ronald Reagan signed a law that allowed women who had had psychiatric damage and were suicidal to have an abortion. He thought it was about maybe 300 a year, which is what he was told. You know, it turned out to be a very significant abortion bill because a lot of women just went and got a sign off from a psychiatrist.

Ronald Reagan was opposed to that from day one. He was very upset about that. So I mean I find real fault with Romney basically saying, "Ronald Reagan did this. Ronald Reagan did that." I mean I remember him basically saying he wasn't for Ronald Reagan. He belittled Ronald Reagan in '94 when he ran against Kennedy.

[lanefiller1]

Anyone interested in a funny (but it really happened) column about what Huckabee is really like face-to-face should try:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14

[tessies101]

Ed Rollins is a business as usual in Washington type of guy. Any consideration I had for Huckabee went out of my mind when Rollins got into Huckabees camp.
I was sorry to see Huckabee accept Ed Rollins, oh well, more of the same. Maybe we do need a Democrat in office.

[rosaca322]

I hate to rain on your parade but RON PAUL is going to win Iowa

[rosaca322]

Huckabee''s son David killed a dog and was charge with trying to bring a handgun
on an airplane. It prompted the local prosecuting attorney%u2014 bombarded with
complaints generated by a national animal-rights group%u2014to write a letter to the
Arkansas state police seeking help investigating whether David and another
teenager had violated state animal-cruelty laws. The state police never granted
the request, and no charges were ever filed. He got off scot free because of
his Dads influence.

Watch here on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBxX9bxxdtI

[perception5]

Slick Huck raised taxes so much and so often in Arkansas that the folks there used to call him "tax hike mike".

Olde Slick Huck isn''t going to win Iowa. Rep. King has been campaigning all this week with Fred in Slick Huck''s strong counties.

Slick Huck has a lot of skeletons and baggage that have yet to fall out of the closet..........NEXT!

[mudrose-2009]

I hate to rain on your parade but RON PAUL is going to win Iowa

Posted by rosaca322

You''re not raining on our parade. He just accepted a donation from a guy named Black, ironic, who is a racist. I guess they can then parade Ron Paul with a flag and a cross and call him a true fascist.

[edf12]

Mr. Goldsmith,

You may want to reconsider the title for this story as it is inaccurate. Per your own reporting, Mr. Rollins states that the campaign ''thinks'' they are going to win Iowa.

"Ed Rollins: I think Iowa''s very important to him. And I think the bottom line is that we think we''re going to win Iowa. I don''t think we started out expecting to win anything, but I think this is what''s created a great buzz."

[scottfromaz]

Huckabee is terrible.. If he wins the nomination we are toast... And I will actually active campaign against him in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Colorado...

Huckabee is a prolife Bill Clinton, except worse where it counts. He is more liberal then Clinton. Say hello to the next Jimmy Carter.

[terrapin78]

Most like Reagan?

You mean brain dead?

[rrichey4430]

I used to respect Ed Rollins. No longer. He is buying into the worst candidate to every come out of the Republican party. I am a died in the wool conservative, but Barak Obama would probably get my vote in the general election against this guy.

[vinnie91]

Rollins has been anti-Bush well before he became Huckabee''s national chairman. I''ve watched him interviewed on TV, as people around him were bashing Bush...and he, the supposed conservative, would let them go completely without challenge. Why Huckabee picked Rollins has me now suspicious of Huckabee''s intent and judgement. He appears more and more to not be a conservative, and then to go out and call our president ''arrogant'' is not only wrong, but a dumb thing to do. Many of us conservatives support our president and give him credit for not falling into the liberal media trap of governing by consensus, but rather what is best for our country.
And then on top of that, for Rollins to make negative remarks about Rush Limbaugh is just plain stupid! Rush is probably one of the most brilliant analysis of the political scene of our time. You can tell he hits the truth when there are so many liberals and media types that can''t stand him.
Wake up Huckabee and get rid of Rollings.

[brianindc]

Huckabee is the only chance for Republicans to win the general election. I know far right conservatives are fuming that Huckabee is connecting with voters, but they just need to get over it. And for the individual that thinks Rush is a genius, I''d hate to see the IQ test that allowed you to come to that conclusion. Rush is part of the money establishment and he is not capable of having an original thought. He knows who feeds him.

[culturechang]

This is just media hype. The media wants poeple to think that Huckleberry will likely win because poeple are stupid and will vote for however THEY THINK might win....because they think if the dont "it will waste thier vote". And actually if they vote this way, they really are wasting thier vote. Poeple should vote for who they think fits the job at this time....not who the media tells them is leading.

[culturechang]

That looks like Chuck Norris in the background.

[bryantford]

What else would you expect from the Huckabee campaign. Its Huckabee that is constantly changing his statements and trying to redue his past. He doesn''t stand a chance in the national race.

[edf12]

Let''s get this straight.

First, Rollins says, "I think the bottom line is that we think we''re going to win Iowa." (Notice the word ''think'').

Second, the headline of this story reads, "Ed Rollins: Huckabee Will Win Iowa." (Notice the word ''will'').

Last, and of course the most egregious, DrudgeReport says, "Huckabee''s National Chairman Guarantees IA Victory..." (Now the word ''think'' has become a ''guarantee'')

Let the spin continue.....

[dearleighton]

Huckabee has presented himself as the "Christian" candidate, and his surge in the polls is exactly because of that, despite questions about Huckabee%u2019s ethical record. Christians should judge a candidate''s ethical record and decide whether the candidate is exhibiting the "fruits of the Spirit." (Galations 5:22-23)

The current administration does not show many of these fruits, and yet because Bush calls himself a Christian, many Christians take him at his word, and let him get away with unethical and dangerous behavior.

Don''t make the same mistake with Huckabee. I have compiled a sampling of Mike Huckabee''s record of questionable ethics. You can read them at my blog at leightonweese.squarespace.com

[myidoncbs]

CultureChang points out, "That looks like Chuck Norris in the background."

Yes. Chuck has lost his mind and he is supporting Hucksterbee. Norris even made a TV commercial for him. Chuck can still kick your a$$ any day of the week, but his mind is gone.

The ads by that used car salesman, Mutt, may be misleading, but their main point is correct: Hucksterbee was a TERRIBLE governor and he is seriously disliked by the people of his state. See the Arkansas Times, for example, for the local perspective on Hucksterbee.

[myidoncbs]

Here''s an interesting tidbit: (from the Arkansas Times, "The tale of the tapes", 9/27/07)

"In early January 2007, as his tenure as governor ran out, Huckabee ordered his staff to electronically wipe and then crush the hard drives of almost 100 laptop and desktop computers in the governor''s office (soon after taking office, incoming governor Mike Beebe had to allocate $335,000 from his operating fund to buy new hard drives and computers to replace those crushed by his successor). At the time, Huckabee said that the decision to crush the hard drives was made in order to protect the privacy of those who had personal information on the drives. Critics, however, recalled that early in Huckabee''s term as governor, documents, e-mails and memos stored on hard drives just like the ones that were destroyed formed the basis of embarrassing stories about Huckabee, including a 1998 story in the Arkansas Times detailing how Huckabee and his family were using the $60,000-a-year Governor''s Mansion fund as their personal piggy bank. As revealed in documents provided to the Times by a former governor''s office employee, the Huckabee family had used the mansion fund %u2014 which was supposed to be used only for purchases related to official state business %u2014 to buy everything from pantyhose and dog houses to meals out and loaves of Velveeta cheese."

[pepperp1]

And for us non Republican voters we say thank you ED, and to the country and to the parties, Iowa going first needs to change their judgements and selection are extreme and do not represent any cross section of America this is the same crowd that picked Bush. I would prefer Ohio if I had a choice.

This will be at least be an election where bigotry and biases will constantly be before us and I am not sure that getting it out in the open is a bad thing, we may very well end up with a white male chubby Southern Baptist Minister, a Independent white male billionaire who is Jewish and a White Female Senator running, should drive the loon lonneir than usual I would guess.

[prinzowhales]

Having a piece of dung like Ed Rollins in your corner is as bad as having Henry Kissinger endorse you...as he endorsed McCain.

Notice how he tried to paint Hucksterbee as an outsider that the Establishment doesn''t like...what a farce! He was involved in the election of mass murdress Christine Todd Whitman as governor of New Jersey...she is the vile creature who as head of the EPA did nothing to protect the first responders and clean up workers...and allowed people to return to the toxic work environment around the WTC. Rollins, by his own admission, gave black preachers in New Jersey "walking around money" to dampen the black turnout.

Now we have Rollins in Hucksterbee''s corner, trying to sell this maggot Hucksterbee as someone that the Establishment fears. It is so transparent...they must take the American people for idiots...if so, they are pretty much right on the money.

[edf12]

Just did a google search of some of the usernames making comments here...looks like RP supporters are coming out in droves. That explains why we have so many ''extreme'' comments.

[Deefan24]

Very interesting. I''m not sure how someone can win a state when they are losing support in the polls. Of course, I guess when you continually lie like the Huckster has done, the facts don''t matter.

[gkc99]

"The reason a minority of republicans hate him is because he won''''t be bossed around by the fat cats on Wall Street. "--Posted by npborn

What! Huckleberry is going to convert to Communism?

Once Hucky gets away from the Holy Roller states, he may find that his blatant hanging of his campaign sign on the cross will backfire. Most normal human beings outside the midwest inbreeding belt don''t like tent revival snake oil salesmen all that much.

[arrows213]

Editor, CBS News:

Two very (intentionally?) misleading items in this story.

1. CBS ''And this comes after he said several years ago that it''s the responsibility of elected officials to %u201Ctake back this nation for Christ.%u201D'' Huckabee NEVER said that was the responsibility of elected officials. He was addressing an assembly of Southern Baptist officials. He was talking about the responsibility of THE CHURCH!!!

2. Your headline. Rollins never said Huckabee would win Iowa. He said, "we think we''re going to win Iowa." I''m sure Romney, and maybe McCain also "think" they''re going to win Iowa. But that wouldn''t have made such a sensationalistic headline, would it?

Please, do your homework (point 1), aim for a little journalistic integrity (point 2), and TELL THE TRUTH!

Nothing would be more refreshing to your readers, as they''re having a harder and harder time finding those qualities ANYWHERE in American journalism today.

[sgtrds]

"Ed Rollins: Huckabee Will Win Iowa. Says victory will be inevitable after Gov. Huckabee successfully parts the Des Moines river from a top the highway US235 overpass the day before the caucus'' in a dramatic demonstration of who Jesus loves best."

[mrmazerati]

As a more-or-less agnostic, politically independent voter, my view on Huckabee is basically neutral. Conservative presidents are the rule rather than the exception in this country. Religious ones equally so. Huck''s just carrying on tradition. No big deal. I''m still voting democratic at this time, though. The last Republican sucked big time.

[pepperp1]

Notice how he tried to paint Hucksterbee as an outsider that the Establishment doesn''''t like...w..........Posted by Prinzowhales at 02:15 PM : Dec 21, 2007


Actually he is an outsider there is no doubt that the republican puppet masters DO NOT want Huckabee as the nominee they don%u2019t have a good bone in their bodies and more than half don%u2019t even believe in Christ if that is meaningful to you. They want a sycophant they can puppet to subvert the effectiveness of the government and keep our treasury open, competent regulators away for them, and free reign to corrupt our financial systems all the while raiding our Treasury under the false pretense of made up Threats.

The swifties are coming never fear, and the trick will be to keep the poodles in line while rejecting their hand picked messiah.

It dosent matter anyway the American People are going to run every subversive obstuctionst elected Republican out of office that they can, just like in 06, if places like Alaska protect their crooks and don%u2019t hold them accountable nothing the rest of us can do except give the Dems more margin to crush bridges and ferrys to no where and outrageous road projects slipped into bills after they have been voted on. The fools really believe we will hold the Dems accountable for there Subversion obstruction of our government and the Peoples interest this year and that is WRONG.

[coolprophet]

CBS NEWS CAUGHT CONDUCTING RIGGED POLLS
Most people can see right through the prejudice CBS News obviously has towards Ron Paul. In the few times they''ve covered him at all, I''m suprised they didn''t have one of their graphics artists Photoshop some devil horns on top of his head in that worst ever photograph they always use of him. CBS obviously thinks that if they pretend Paul isn''t a top-tier GOP candidate, then their readers and viewers will eventually think so too. Whenever they are forced to do a story on Paul, because some other mainstream source is covering him for some reason, the fact that their editors work overtime to slant their stories in such a way as to either marginalize his accomplishment, or present Paul in the most negative light possible, is obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence. "What about their polls?," you ask? As far as the CBS News poll is concerned, they don''t even include Paul on the list of GOP candidates which pollees can choose from, and then afterwards, report to you that Paul doesn''t even rank in their final tally. Ron Paul is getting major grass roots support nationwide. He has over 80,221 meetup group members in 1,289 Groups from 999 cities nationwide, with another 7,678 people more folks just waiting to hear when a new meetup group will start-up near them. He''s won ALL of the viewer phone-in polls in ALL of the GOP debates he''s been in, and has raised more money ($6 million) in one day than any other presidential candidate ever

[tylenol6]

First of all, Huckabee is a world class globalist CFR member. Oop''s, he''s not telling anyone that though. Is
he???? CFR members are sellout the american people. Which is pretty much ALL the top 6 candidates. Second of
all, I read Huckabee dosen''t even have a THEOLOGICAL DEGREE....HUCKSTER IS A BIG FAT LIAR!!!!!!

[jsilver2th]

Oh Ed- you said Ross Perot was going to win too.. campaigning with Chuck Norris proves he''s off base...

[denn034]

Here''s Huckabee''s Christmas present. Mormon Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley was involved in bisexual parties with young boys and prostitutes in the 1970s, I have three affidavits, a former church security employee letter, a deathbed testimony, and other evidence to back that up. Merry Christmas, Huckabee!

[nolalou]

CoolProphet , leave it to a Ron Paul supporter to post his rant on an article about another candidate!

I have read a number of polls by various organizations, none show Ron Paul with more than about 9% support in Iowa or New Hampshire. Mentioning how many people show up at ''meet ups'' or how much money was raised via the internet don''t mean much! After all, in 2004 Howard Dean set all kinds of internet fund raising records, and had large attendance at ''meet ups'' and thousands of volunteers, and you saw how quickly his campaign ''bit the dust'' after failure in Iowa! Mark my words "Ron Paul is not going to win a a single primary or caucus! "

[kissamaarse]

Supplicant Republicans just can''t live without there hypocritical Republicant politicians. It doesn''t matter that Huckabee is a known liar, as long as he bows to the evangelicals light-eyed, light-haired and fair-skinned Germanic Jesus he is A-OK. As a lousy one-term Arkansas governor, Huckabee is just more of George Bush. Even the Republicans I know do not want more seeing America dragged down.

[coolprophet]

keep believing what you want.the truth does not need me but you really need some truth

[coolprophet]

you must be one of them non thinking sheeple i heard so much about.glad to catch up with you in the middle again

[coolprophet]

(go to google hacking democracy) is a good movie to see I truly think ron paul is the olny one who can save us now.his record of helping the people is the real message here have some courage and look for yourself RON PAUL 08

[excoachken]

I agree with Rollins, the Huckster will win in Iowa, but only because he "sugar coats" his lies with a Biblical phrase. He is a Con Man of the worst style, with racism and hate slightly obscured in his "religion." I think he will draw out the same haste filled group that voted (and rigged voting machines) for the Cowardly Cowboy last time.

[jowand]

I agree with Rollins, the Huckster will win in Iowa, but only because he "sugar coats" his lies with a Biblical phrase. He is a Con Man of the worst style, with racism and hate slightly obscured in his "religion." I think he will draw out the same haste filled group that voted (and rigged voting machines) for the Cowardly Cowboy last time.
Posted by exCoachKen at 04:46 PM : Dec 21, 2007

Just like Hillary and Obama will draw out the hate filled, lying, vote rigging Progressives.

[johnshaft4]

"If you elect me, Hick-a-be, I promise a plastic Jeezus in every pot."

[vinnie91]

Tell you what guys, while Huckabee made a major blunder by attacking Bush, therefore making me put my support for either Romney or Thompson (lets face it we all want Dunkin Hunter, but don''t think he can win), I would still vote for Huck over any of the democrats.

[samthetvcat]

"Just like Hillary and Obama will draw out the hate filled, lying, vote rigging Progressives."
Posted by jowand

That''s not true - many of Hillary''s supporters are about vengeance; most of Obama''s supporters are tired of the red versus blue and want a unifier . . . somebody who''s a relative ''outsider'' who understands that all of us (red and blue) share a disgust for greedy corrupt government.

For me Huckabee dissing Shrub was a major plus, although I''m not sure how that plays with his base . . . don''t Huckabee and Shrub have the same base (Southern Baptist Evangelicals?). If it came down to Hillary versus Huckabee it''d have been really tempting to vote for Huckabee except that I keep hearing these terrible quotes he''s made in the past that show a tremendous amount of ignorance and intolerance - total deal-breakers for me . . .

[samthetvcat]

PS Not saying Obama''s going to actually be able to make many changes if any at all, but at I do think he''ll be able to use that to bring us together somewhat. At least he won''t antagonize the way Billary will . . .

[lanefiller1]

Anyone interested in what Huckabee is really like face to face should try this funny (but it actually happened) column:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14

[pepperp1]

I think its a great idea to have Huckabee as the republican nominee, it will be a nice change from the neo conservative war complex APAC, PNAC, AEI, et al, I''ll even send money to help ya all out don%u2019t forget to go to the polls, praise the lord and I35. And Iowa should always pick the Republican nominee. Iowa however is not representative in anyway of the values and diversity that is the Democratic party and their first caucus should move elsewhere, white male Christian Baptist just don%u2019t cut it nor are their values what we independents and Dems value in an elected official, ethics and competence come first not god talk without a record of corresponding deeds and enough with the bad boys. But watch out for those SWIFTIES they are coming for sure but at least that will distract them for Senator Clinton.

[laurabee3]

Let''s see, in the last week, Mitt Romney:
1) Said his father marched with Martin Luther King, which turns out to be a lie.
2) Said he never attended Planned Parenthood fundraisers, which turns out to be a lie.
3)Said he was endorsed by the NRA, which turns out to be a lie.

HELLO??????????

[pepperp1]

PS Not saying Obama''''s going to actually be able to make many changes if any at all, but at I do think he''''ll be able to use that to bring us together somewhat. At least he won''''t antagonize the way Billary will . . .


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 05:03 PM : Dec 21, 2007
+ report abuse


A joke, the guy cant even have the balllers to vote his conscience when thats what he is paid to do, cult of personality is all that is propelling the Senators rise cause it is not his record, his experience or his intellectual debating prowess and I would suggest it is easy to rise above partisan politics when you dont engage, my vote for Obama PRESENT but at least he isnt a obstructionist subversive republican but Bloomberg may yet be an option if the Dems nominate another light weight to be President.

[fibonacci_]

Oh no, not that Ron Paul guy. Were you on vacation for a while there Prophet? Weenie head.

[samthetvcat]

"A joke, the guy cant even have the balllers to vote his conscience when thats what he is paid to do, cult of personality is all that is propelling the Senators rise cause it is not his record, his experience or his intellectual debating prowess and I would suggest it is easy to rise above partisan politics when you dont engage, my vote for Obama PRESENT but at least he isnt a obstructionist subversive republican but Bloomberg may yet be an option if the Dems nominate another light weight to be President."
Posted by pepperp1

Yeah, I heard you the first 30 times you posted this. What a way to show Jowand you''re not obsessed with getting revenge . . .

[gunownerdan]

If you really like big government, high taxes, and the destruction of our constitutional rights, then vote for any "front runner" in either party.
Ron Paul is not your candidate.