Is organization overrated? Every time you turn on cable news or read a blog, you can’t help but hear talk about how important it is for a presidential candidate to have a large and well-funded political organization to win the all-important Iowa caucuses. And yet, former House speaker Newt Gingrich , the Iowa front-runner with just 22 days left before the caucuses, has — at best — a spartan political organization in the state. And four years ago, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee beat out his far more professionally organized rivals to claim victory in the Hawkeye State. Read full article > >

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How much does organization really matter in Iowa?

Gingrich, Romney pressed in Huckabee forum.

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Cain’s Exit Leaves Two-Man Race

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, facing increased scrutiny as he solidifies his standing atop the Republican presidential field, sought to convince conservatives in a forum Saturday night that he would not stray from a limited-government philosophy. Asked why conservatives should trust that he won’t advance “big government approaches,” given his history of supporting an individual health-care mandate, climate change policies and a larger federal role in education policy, Gingrich said it was his years in Washington that made him best-suited to transform government. Read full article > >

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Republican hopefuls make pitch at Huckabee forum

When I talked to Mike Huckabee last February about his reluctance to run for president again, one of the major reservations he mentioned was the grueling schedule of debates that define the early primary season. “We just rehashed the same stuff, over and over. I was bored with it,” said the former Arkansas governor and the winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses. “It was the same tripe, and I found it just incredibly disgusting, and ultimately meaningless.” Read full article > >

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Republican debate: Expect the unexpected

URBANDALE, Iowa — In Washington, it’s all about the economy. But not here. As the Republican presidential candidates gear up for Saturday’s critical straw poll in Ames , they are aggressively targeting a network of pastors, parents who home-school their children, evangelicals and other conservatives who care as much about stopping gay marriage as they do about the debt ceiling. Whoever gains traction with this crucial constituency in Iowa could not only win the straw poll but could galvanize religious conservatives throughout the country who remain a powerful force in Republican politics. On Thursday night, GOP contenders squared off at a debate in Ames, hoping to more sharply define their candidacies. Read full article > >

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Ahead of Iowa straw poll, Republican contenders court former Mike Huckabee backers

In the aftermath of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels ’ decision not to run for president in 2012 over the weekend, one name is drawing lots of attention as a possible late entrant who could fundamentally re-shape the Republican race: Texas Gov. Rick Perry . “Daniels’ decision, coupled with [Mike] Huckabee’s and Newt’s [Gingrich] implosion, will create a tornado-size draft for Rick Perry,” predicted Mark McKinnon, a GOP media consultant who worked with President George W. Bush . “He’s tanned, rested and got nothing else to do for the next two years.” Read full article > >

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Will Rick Perry run for president in 2012?

Mike Huckabee’s exit creates an opening for other candidates, but it forecloses an excuse for a poor showing.

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FiveThirtyEight: Sizing Up Iowa Without Huckabee

The Fast Fix – Which candidates will benefit from the fact that Mike Huckabee won’t be running for president in 2012? Read full article > >

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The Fast Fix – Who benefits from Huckabee’s decision?

Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 G.O.P. caucus in Iowa, said he would not seek Republican presidential nomination, choosing to continue his broadcast career.

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After Hinting Otherwise, Huckabee Says He Won’t Run for President

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee says he will not run for US president in elections in 2012.

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Huckabee opts out of US 2012 bid

Mike Huckabee will not run for president in 2012. The former governor of Arkansas made the announcement during a live broadcast of his show on Fox News on Saturday night. Polling had suggested that he would be a very strong candidate for the…

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Huckabee Will Not Run in 2012

Mike Huckabee has made a decision about his plans for 2012, but not even his closest advisers know whether or not he’s going to run for president. Huckabee sent emails

Mike Huckabee is set to make a “very important announcement” on his Fox News show on Saturday night. In a statement, Executive Producer Woody Fraser said that Huckabee would announce whether or not he intends to launch a presidential bid. Huckabee is…

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Huckabee Nears 2012 Announcement

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is expected to announce whether or not he will run for president on his Fox News Channel show Saturday evening, a major moment in the nascent 2012 contest. “Governor Huckabee will announce tomorrow night on his program whether or not he intends to explore a presidential bid,” said Woody Fraser, the executive producer of “Huckabee” in a statement . “He has not told anyone at Fox News Channel his decision.” Read full article > >

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Mike Huckabee’s ‘very important announcement’

All of the rest of you 2012 GOP hopefuls? You’re fired. An NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll shows Donald Trump tied for second place in the 2012 GOP primary, leading the way with a sizable chunk of the Tea Party support. Trump tied Mike Huckabee for 17…

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Trump Tied for 2nd in New GOP Poll