Governor Mike Huckabee answers a question about creation and evolution in a debate ealier in 2007.

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly lead of his show last night discussing Mike Huckabee's new "What Matters Most" Christmas ad. O'Reilly actually passionately defended the ad and disagreed with other critics claiming there were "subliminal" or hidden messages.

The Mike Huckabee campaign just released the video below as an ad that will run during the Christmas season in New Hampshire and South Carolina. 

It didn't take long for Matt Drudge of DrudgeReport.com to attempt to cast this ad in a negative light.  In a vintage "gotcha headline" style Drudge has the following banner - HUCKABEE AD FEATURES FLOATING 'CROSS'... DEVELOPING....   Actually he has a second banner he placed also on his front page featuring this headline with a link to the video - Huckabee Invokes Jesus in Latest Campaign Ad... Drudge seems to be pulling out all the stops placing two different sensational headlines linked to the same video.

Watch the video below and you will see the "floating cross" which is actually a window pane with holiday bulbs next to a Christmas tree in the background.  To suggest that the Huckabee campaign has placed a floating window pane as a subliminal religious message is ridiculous.  Mike Huckabee doesn't need to hide anything about his message - he says directly in the ad, "At Christmas what matters most is the celebration of the birth of Christ - and to be with our family and friends."  

Update - 12-18-07 Fox news has a story about the "floating cross" also today and even describes Huckabee sharing a greeting of "Merry Christmas" as "unthinkable. 

In a new television ad debuting today in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee does the unthinkable — he wishes early voters "Merry Christmas."

A new article in the Wall Street Journal is entitled, "Huckabee Taps Renewed Fervor Of Evangelicals".  The story describes a new type of evangelical spirit across America that is aligning with the new Republican frontrunner Mike Huckabee.  Here are a few excerpts below:

Evangelical voters, dispirited with their options in the Republican presidential field for much of the year, are feeling new energy and intensity as they flock to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. And with their support, Mr. Huckabee's campaign is soaring to heights that seemed unimaginable just a month ago.

Mr. Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor who quotes readily from the Bible, is working hard to capitalize on the new evangelical spirit. Among his tools: grass-roots organizing, television advertising and targeted messaging to reach evangelicals. And a growing number of evangelical Republicans have embraced him.

For now, many evangelicals are relishing their revival. "We haven't really had a candidate who represents us, a true conservative -- not one that morphs depending on the circumstances or crowd," says Mrs. Domagalski of South Carolina. "There's been an explosion of people like me who have found Mike. We are so excited about this man."

Governor Mike Huckabee was interviewed this morning on ABC News Good Morning America and responded to questions about his faith and issues regarding Mormonism.