The surprise of the Ames straw poll was Mike Huckabee’s strong second place finish, and if there’s anyone out there celebrating as much as his campaign staff, it’s the anonymous individual(s) behind the long-running, unambiguously titled campaign blog, Mike Huckabee President 2008:

The blog bills itself as

THE FIRST UNOFFICIAL HUCKABEE FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN BLOG FOUNDED FEB. 14,2005

but I think that might be underselling it. I’m pretty sure Mike Huckabee President 2008 was the first unofficial 2008 blog for any candidate, period — launched February 14, 2005.

Compare to Evangelicals for Mitt, which launched in June 2006. That was before Romney was actively running, but still more than a year after MHP2008 got its start. Mark Coffey at Decision ‘08 actually launched in November 2004, which is about as far back as you can push it (his tagline until recently: “Because it’s never too early”) but he’s an observer, not an advocate.

I’m sure if you looked hard, you could find blog-carcasses strewn alongside the information superhighway. A quick Google search turned up Grassroots for Gore, launched in May 2005 and abandoned about a year later.

It takes some confidence — to say nothing of stamina — to start backing a candidate three years before the Iowa caucuses. Not only do you have to be reasonably sure your candidate will actually run, but you’ve got to stay interested as the months and years drag on.

Congratulations, Mike Huckabee President 2008. I look forward to reading Mike Huckabee President 2016.

P.S. Primary disclosure: I’m with Fred. Secondary disclosure: If you’re reading this on Firefox for Mac, the heart symbol isn’t going to show up, and I haven’t the slightest idea why not.

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