Per Jonathan Martin, Mike Huckabee is up in Michigan with the ad that he used to court social and Christian conservatives in Iowa:
This paid media will reach the voters in the remote and rural areas of Michigan so that he doesn't have to spend precious days before the South Carolina primary there. This is also a curious move by the Hucakbee camp.
The latest Michigan poll indicates that Mike Huckabee will finish in a solid third place. So why spend the money?
Every vote Huckabee wins is a vote lost by Mitt Romney. Romney's religiousity is more important than his religion here (as opposed to in Iowa and South Carolina) and combined with his roots in the state have a certain appeal to social and Christian conservatives in Michigan. They would be likely Romney voters if Huckabee wasn't playing in the state.
Thus, by default Huckabee is peeling votes off Romney. This helps McCain in the process and may give him the edge in claiming that top spot in the primary this week. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
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