Whilst staunchly Republican, Huckabee was one of the few politicians with the personal appeal, and bravery to face left-wing comedians on live television in the last election campaign, appearing both on the Colbert Report and in interview with Jon Stewart.

The time has come to look closely at Mike Huckabee. For a large number of people, his views will be considered extreme, and possibly bizarre, but Huckabee is testing the waters on a 2012 campaign and with some cause to be taken seriously.

The former Baptist Minister is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. His socially conservative, religiously inspired flavour of politics can be divisive, but his great gift is being able to package himself in a way which seems to be both genuine, and accessible. Somehow he is both of the right, and of the centre - considered to be a truly bipartisan politician. Journalists this side of the pond are focussing in on Palin, and missing a candidate who may yet be the real surprise.