Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

Mike Huckabee called a press conference today in Iowa to preview his new response/negative ad against Mitt Romney to the press. Then he stunned everyone in attendance by announcing that he had decided to turn the other cheek and that the ad has, for the moment at least, been embargoed. The opening text, per Political Punch:

HUCKABEE: I'm Mike Huckabee and I approved this spot because Iowans have the right to know the truth about Mitt Romney's dishonest attacks on me and even an American hero, John McCain.

NARRATOR: Romney's record? Over 700 million in new taxes. Left office with a deficit. No executions. Supported gun control. And Romney's government-mandate health plan provided a $50 co-pay for abortion.

HUCKABEE: If a man's dishonest to obtain a job, he'll be dishonest on the job. Iowans deserve better.

We're looking for video of the ad now...

According to Huckabee, the ad had already been sent to Iowa television stations and most of his staff hadn't been informed of his decision to pull it. Jonathan Martin has some good analysis of the stunt:

How do the local tv affilates here describe the move?  What will the AP story that dozens of papers here pick up tomorrow read like?  And what sort of presentation nd play will the Des Moines Register give to what can only be described as a singular moment in an already topsy-turvey campaign?

More than being a preacher and pol, Huck is a showman first.   And today, he was in his element on center stage.  He's risen to this point almost entirely by virture of his unparalled communications skills.  Those were put to the test today under a withering line of questions.