Bob McCarty Writes

As the sports world awaits the kickoff of Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., count me among the long list of political pundits unable to avoid drawing parallels between the 2008 presidential race and the biggest professional football game of the year.

Don’t worry too much, though, because my comparisons of presidential candidates to the once-near-dead New York Giants and seemingly-invincible New England Patriots involve only Republicans.

One character trait shared by the New York Giants and Mike Huckabee is resolve. The Giants became the first NFC member to advance to the Super Bowl as a wild card in 32 years, and are only the third team in NFL history to get there by winning three consecutive road playoff tests (Source: The Pittsburgh Channel). They made it as far as they did by resolving to do so, regardless of the personal sacrifice.

Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor with the funny last name, shows similar resolve. When he entered the 2008 race for the GOP presidential nomination, he was barely known outside of political circles, had no money and was given little chance of success by people “in the know.” Then he won the first contest, the Iowa Caucuses, despite having been outspent 20-to-1 by then-chief rival Mitt Romney. Today, he’s often referred to by political reporters as a “Romney spoiler” despite the fact that most national polls show him even with — or slightly ahead of — the former Massachusetts governor.

The character trait shared by the New England Patriots and John McCain is a win-at-all-cost approach.

Earlier this year, the Patriots and their coach were fined $500,000 by the National Football League for allegedly cheating (click here for details). Their crime? Making video recordings of their opponents coaches on the sideline — a blatant violation of league rules.

On the campaign trail, the Arizona senator has repeatedly resorted to Nixon-like tactics and seems willing to do or say anything necessary — regardless of whether its true — in order to secure his party’s nomination.

When it comes down to making tough choices, I side with the team and the candidate who shows resolve. That’s why Huckabee‘s my first choice, Romney my second and McCain my very-distant third.

Had I wanted a candidate who has no qualms about lying, cheating and/or stealing, I would have voted for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

P.S. Have faith, Huckabeelievers! The New York Giants won the Super Bowl, 17-14!