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Subscribe to RSSPolitico's Martin and Smith remind the political world not to forget about Mike Huckabee when looking ahead to the 2012 GOP presidential contest.
Dial down the deafening Sarah Palin buzz for just a moment: The most consequential decision in the 2012 Republican presidential sweepstakes could be whether Mike Huckabee decides to run again – and associates say the former Arkansas governor may well take the plunge.
If Huckabee gets in, he will unquestionably be a force to be reckoned with in the fight for the nomination. He’d be the undisputed frontrunner in lead-off Iowa, where he won by nine points in 2008. He’d be the candidate to beat in South Carolina, which he narrowly lost to John McCain two years ago in part because of a divided conservative vote. His weekly Fox show, thrice-daily radio program and Grisham-like ability to crank out a book-per-year has given him a direct media presence akin to Palin’s – but without the sky-high negatives.
And should Huckabee stay out, it would create a vacuum on the right among both religious conservatives and tea party activists that would significantly re-order the race and potentially create a larger opening for Palin.
And will Huck run? Some mixed opinions.
“My sense is he would like to do it,” said longtime GOP consultant Ed Rollins, Huckabee’s 2008 campaign chairman and still a close adviser.
“He’s truly enjoying what he’s doing right now,” added Chip Saltsman, the governor’s 2008 campaign manager and another close confidante, noting that Huckabee has “never really made any money.”
“But it’s hard to ignore these early polls that show him at top of the food chain,” said Saltsman.
Huckabee’s daughter, Sarah, went even further.
“I certainly wouldn’t count him out,” she said. “There is as good a chance that he runs at this point as he doesn’t.”
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Anybody ever listen to ol' Mike's cutesy 1 or 2 minute daily spots on the radio?
Talk about a smart-ass. This guy rates up there with Palin when it comes to snark-sters.
And he's a religious bozo to boot. What's not to like in a president?
I will raise thousands for Governor Palin, but for Gomer? Not so much?
I've been working the Team Huck Team for a long time. Long enough to know that Gov. Mike Huckabee is a man of honor, honesty and a great handle on the political system. He can speak to both side of the political spectrum with civility and knowledge of the issues. Mike will work tirelessly to bring positive change to this nation.
I've been working with Team Huck for a long time. Long enough to know that Gov. Mike Huckabee is a man of honor, honesty and a great handle on the political system. He can speak to both side of the political spectrum with civility and knowledge of the issues. Mike will work tirelessly to bring positive change to this nation.
Gov. Huckabee is the kind of leader our country needs, experienced enough with over 10 years of executive experience as governor, charismatic enough to lead people, eloquent enough to win the support of independents. I strongly support the Governor. Simply put, this country needs Mike Huclkabee as President.
There is no question in my mind that the GOP has within their power the ability to force Obama into being a one termer, but that is only if they get behind Governor Mike Huckabee. Not sure if he will run again , but it would be nice to have a true fiscal and social conservative (not to mention an adult) in the White House. Those who know him best support him the most. There is a reason for that. They know his real record, not the twist fest and nearly humorous distortions that even some "conservatives" engage in.
I personally know people who lived in Arkansas during his time as Governor. When Huckabee arrived, Arkansas was a corrupt state, with education, unemployment and infrastructure ranking among the lowest in the USA. And despite lowering taxes more than any Arkansas governor in state history, he has always answered for one significant tax hike to rebuild the state's foundational woes. What you don't hear much of, is that he signed the bill into law after the voters passed a ballot initiative in favor of the tax funded projects...by 80%!
Huckabee didn't raise taxes, the people did. And to say that the most visible advocate for the Fair Tax Plan in American politics is liberal with economic policy, seems more than a little odd. That is not a liberal vision regarding tax reform and economic recovery. It, like many of his ideas and accomplishments, is an example of thinking outside the box and being bold enough to enact creative solutions to big problems,without worrying what the polls will say the next day. He answered to no establishment. He was loyal to no lobbyist.
What his record shows as an executive leader, is that he is the most deserving person to credit for the literal modernization of the state. By the end of his era, Arkansas proved to be a model for restoration. It had a booming economy, low unemployment, better schools (went from 48th to 9th place), higher incomes and a relatively low tax burden compared to many states. And, though he arrived with the biggest state debt in history, he left with a surplus of millions.
Mike Huckabee is in a league of his own. He has the most experience of anyone in the GOP bullpen at this time and has a likeability factor that would run off of any chart. Plus, his communication skills would even be envied by Ronald Reagan. If Obama wins a second term, it won't be because of the liberals. It will be because many so called "conservatives" were so ill-informed and boneheaded where Huckabee is concerned that they failed to unite behind the wisest, most talented leader our nation has seen in a generation. Rush-Beck-Coulter-Malkin and their ilk offered up Obama for us the last time around , and it would appear they are gearing up for act two in 2012. Had they been honest with themselves and their audiences in 2007-2008, they would not be whining 24/7 today about the socialistic drain America is swirling down -- because it's quite possible Mike Huckabee would be President today.
I hope Huckabee runs in 2012--no other possible candidate offers anything approaching his integrity, experience, and ability.
Gov. Huckabee has a GREAT record from his 10+ years as governor. He is the only GOP candidate who would motivate me to get my "boots on the ground."