Huckabee Advisers Admit Having ‘Planning Meetings’ for 2012 Run
- Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Despite weeks of mixed signals, Mike Huckabee’s supporters say they believe the former Arkansas governor is now inching toward another run for president.
Huckabee’s top advisers from his 2008 bid say he seems increasingly encouraged by recent polls showing him atop a scattered field of possible candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination. Ed Rollins, Huckabee’s national campaign chairman four years ago, said he has been contacting fundraisers to give Huckabee a sense of how much support he’d have for another presidential bid.
“He’s not said to me per se, ‘Ed, I’m running,‘ but we wouldn’t be having planning meetings and all of the rest of it if he wasn’t,” Rollins said
Speculation about Huckabee’s intentions has intensified since Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s surprise announcement this week that he would not seek the nomination. Barbour’s exit could improve the chances for another southerner in the race. The only other serious challenger with ties in the region, which is now the GOP’s political base, is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
A bid by Huckabee, a Baptist minister, could shake up the GOP field, especially for Republicans hoping to win support among the party’s social conservatives. The winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses, Huckabee has kept a high profile over the past four years with a weekly Fox News Channel show and a nationally syndicated radio program.
The rest of the field hasn’t been waiting for Huckabee to make up his mind. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Gingrich have all taken initial steps toward the race but none has emerged as the candidate to beat. Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and businessman Donald Trump are among the others considering a run.
Huckabee, who is speaking at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting on Saturday, has said he’s in no hurry to make a decision. But Rollins said he’s told Huckabee he needs to decide by June 1 in order to be a viable candidate.
Backers who helped him with his unsuccessful bid four years ago say they expect him to join the race this summer. “If I had to bet, I’d say, yes, he probably will throw his hat in,” said Mike Campbell, who chaired Huckabee’s 2008 campaign in South Carolina.
Rollins said Huckabee is “not as torn as he was a couple of months ago. I think at this point in time it‘s ’how do you do it, how do you put it together, can it be done?’”
Huckabee has spent the first four months of the year giving conflicting signals about 2012. He stoked interest by visiting early primary states such as South Carolina to promote his latest book, and by meeting with former campaign officials about another possible run. He’s also popped up at key conservative events.
On the other hand, he’s in the middle of building a new house in Florida and plans to headline a weeklong “Alaska Freedom” cruise featuring Christian singers in June — the same month Rollins says he should be ready to join the race. His recent political feud with fellow Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck, who called the governor a “progressive” for supporting First Lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity efforts, didn’t look like the type of publicity a political hopeful would want as he hunts for support among Republican voters.
Huckabee is gathering the information he needs for his decision, his spokesmen say.
“Governor Huckabee has not asked anyone for money for a presidential run nor has he told anyone that he’s going to be a candidate, but of course he has conversations with people all the time to gauge what kind of support he might have if he does announce,” said Hogan Gidley, executive director of Huckabee’s political action committee.
Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley, who has talked regularly with Huckabee and said he plans on backing him again if he gets in, said Huckabee would likely benefit directly from Barbour’s exit. “It does nothing but increase his chances,” he said. Campbell said Huckabee has asked his supporters in South Carolina to “keep their powder dry,” and avoid other commitments, as he considers the race.
Another factor that could speed up a decision is Huckabee’s current employer, Fox. The channel’s executive vice president of programming told the Daily Beast this week that network officials planned to meet with Huckabee soon to discuss his future. The channel would suspend his show if he becomes a candidate. The channel in March suspended the contracts of Gingrich and Santorum as on-air contributors as they moved toward White House runs.
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Comments (129)
conservativeVA
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:43pmJust some FACTS about Mike Huckabee in case you plan on voting for him.
- During his two-term tenure, spending increased by more than 65 percent — at three times the rate of inflation
-The number of government workers increased by 20 percent, and the state’s debt services increased by nearly $1 billion
- Under his leadership, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, including increases in the state’s gas, sales, income, and cigarette taxes. He raised taxes on everything from groceries to nursing home beds
-Huckabee answers these complaints by pointing out that he “cut taxes 94 times” while governor. True. But most of those tax cuts were tiny, like exempting residential lawn care from the sales tax
-On net, Huckabee increased state taxes by more than $500 million
- having become health conscious while losing more than 120 pounds (a remarkable feat), he now calls for a national smoking ban. Because he believes that “art and music are as important as math and science” in public schools, he wants these programs funded — and thus, directed and administered — federally
– From the cato institute
Please do your research before you vote for someone. Huckabee would be no better than Obama.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 7:31pmPlease. NOTHING could be worse than Sock Puppet.
Report Post »Hawt'n'secksie
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:37pmAm I the only one who notices that The Huck is ****-eyed? Sure, it makes him damn secksie, but I think it makes the other candidates really jealous and they will be more likely to sabotage him.
Report Post »Mr. Nice Guy
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:58pmMan I wish the Blaze hadn’t auto-censored that, it looked like a typical Hawt‘N’Secksie sarcastic comment. Darn the luck.
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:20amI used to respect the Blaze because they let us talk freely. But not anymore. Now, I think the censorship crap has ruined a good board. Let the people talk freely. What are you trying to do, protect the children?
Report Post »jpjuve
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:36pmLikewise here, Idk…there is something about his booger ears.
Report Post »Bermuda Onion
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:35pmPlease Mr. Huckabee, do us all a favor, do America a favor. Stay in your corner and then support whomever has been chosen. You, sir are NO conservative and America needs just that today a TRUE conservative. The rinos have done way too much damage to the republican party. So I beg you, as a man of God do not put yourself above country and honor.
Report Post »etecs
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:35pmI‘ve never thought he had a snowball’s chance in getting a republican nomination. I‘m sure he’s a good and decent man, but has some liberal tendencies…..
IMHO
Report Post »conservativeVA
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:35pmFor anyone who thinks Huckabee is a conservative, please check out this article. He is far from a conservative. He is the very definition of a RINO.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8838
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:34pmThe RINOs are charging…
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:31pm^______^______^
Agreed…. he can plan and explore all he wants Huckabore will not be getting my vote. That goes for all the household names right now Romney, Pawlenty, Paul etc Im tired of politicians.
Beck speaks of this when he goes after folks like Bill Kristol. The days of the old GOP etc are over we dont want any of you. Majority of them dont “get it” and the rest fall more in line being a RINO and/or a progressive.
Report Post »KwikKarl
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:31pmWell if Allen West doesnt run, we just need to start a National write in campaign and draft him…
Report Post »SeanW
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 9:10pmWe already have a statist, don’t need another one thankyou.
Report Post »Badler
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 3:15amThe official GOP mailing didn’t have West as a choice on potential candidates in the survey.
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:47amIf you don’t have it in your gut you will be ineffective at anything you do- sports, school, job, dreams etc. You have to have it in your heart, or just don’t do it. You will fail. There is no way in he!! that we could “draft” West.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:29pmHuckabee wouldn’t be my first choice, but I would vote for him in a second if he was the nominee. At this time there is no good choice to beat Obama. We need a real leader with charisma, ideas and real conservative principles. Where the heck is this person ?
Report Post »Joseph28
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:28pmIf *uckabee runs I will not vote. Period. No RINO’s. No more compromising of principals.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:35pmGreat, so you would rather have 4 more years of Obama, yea, real smart.
Report Post »Joseph28
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:58pmHonestly is there a difference between the obamanation and *uckabee? the only difference is that obama is honest about what he wants. He wants to steal from the rich, Hucks policies indicate the same.
Don’t get roped into a false choice, it only ensures that we’ll never get anything but huckabees in the future
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:26pmIRONMAN. I agree with you. Seems nice enough or at least he did for a while. He’s simply just another “establishment” type that would bring no real “change”. I thought his little hissy fit against Beck was pretty silly too. Beck did nothing but state the obvious and then here comes Huckabee acting all media matters like. And I thought he was supposed to be the “moral” candidate but he really showed his true colors last week!
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:23pmDont waste your time MIKE….you are 20 years behind the times….you wont talk staight and you wont go for the JUGULAR…..although TRUMP is an idiot and PALLIN is an idiot…we need a hard hitting straight talking LEADER….If Romney becomes a man and not a politician he has a shot….the current GOP leadership havnt heard the TEA PARTY and we want results NOW…before ROME has fallen
Report Post »calebgs83
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:23pmBOOOO! STAY HOME! Trump may not be a conservative, but at least he has some balls…Huckabee would pull a McCain and roll over and play dead.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:19pmA very decent, honorable man , but he is part of the problem and not the solution.
Report Post »He’s not a conservative. And he will never be one.
Way better than Trump, though.
calebgs83
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:26pmI disagree…he is way worse than Trump because he would rather play patty cake with Obama than be hated by the MSM.
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:13amI would take Trump over Huckabee any day. At least Trump kicks ass and takes names. He wouldn’t take any crap off of the Saudis and the Chinese either. Tell the Saudis, “you screw us for oil, then you defend yourself. And no more fighter jet and missile parts either.
Report Post »Free American
Posted on May 1, 2011 at 8:11amHuckabee is squishy soft and distubingly passive on the issues. Not only that, how can he promote and accomidate the growth of extra-Constitutional government (which is exactly what led Beck to define him as the Progressive), and then at the same time speak at an NRA event defending the Constitution from the very extra-Constitutional government he helped empower? He’s a Freaking Hippocrate! The NRA is being had!!! ARE YOU?
Report Post »How can Romney create then defend Romneycare as Constitutional and good then call Obama care unconstitutional and bad unless you are business competetors? He’s a Freaking Hippocrate too!!!
How many Americans lost their jobs, lost their business, or were otherwise ROBBED by the Donald declaring BankTrumpcy? The only way he knows how to keep on keepin on to declare bunkruptcy! What kind of Plan is that?
WTF? Sellouts and Hippocrates? Is this the best we can do? God help us!!!
krumbruce
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:19pmAgree with KATZ, anyone that ran in 08 should stay home because I will support them ONLY if they are up against Obamamama
Report Post »krumbruce
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:18pmHuckabee is a progressive RINO all the way. His record in Arkansas is skewed toward conservative because it was Arkansas. Had he been somewhere else more liberal, he would have been. After his attack on Glenn Beck, I will never support him and will campaign against his RINO rear end. Stay on FOX Huck, your political days are over.
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:10amExactly. I will not support a person if they have even a single molecule of progressivism in their entire body. Huck is a RINO prog. He is out.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:17pmI agree.
Nice guy to live next to but not my top choice.
He’ll never win over even Mitt Romney
Allen West would still get my vote –
But what do I know – I’m just an extreme racist tea party member.
I just wish Newt Gingritch wern’t such a tool – i like what he has to say.
I like what Allen West has to say more tho.
WEST / CHRISTIE in 2012
Report Post »katzenbacker73
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:14pmI am not buying he is a conservative. Don’t trust any of these guys who fumbled the football in 2008.
Get a real conservative like Herman Cain!
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 8:04pm@ Bluebonnet,are the bluebonnets really thick and pretty this year?
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:14pmHuckleberry, noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:13pmI’m confused how to think about Huckabee now after he exploded over something Glenn Beck said. I heard the comment and read it and it didn‘t seem to be anything I’d have commented on. Glenn just said he’s progressive. Now I’m having 2nd thoughts about Huck because of this. Also, he seems to warm up to libs a little too often for my thinkin. just thinking out loud, who knows?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:14pmYep, hell will probably have to freeze over – especially after the Glenn Beck rant.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:14pmand to the repubic will not give his vote for you Mr. Huckabee.. #1 you’re not black (wrong pigment) and # 2 He just heard of Harry Alford today on the Blaze and he is black wonderful and democrat so sorry Huck he has to go with him..Ain’t that right and to the repubic ?
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:11pmMr. Huckabee is not going to run – he is simply dragging his announcement out in order to worry his archenemy, Mr. Romneycare – it is a silly game, as both of these men know that they would never have a chance of winning the nomination anyway. Like, soooooooooooo high school.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:19pmGood point Mr EMB
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:52pmSorry Huck Baby…No RINOS need apply. Keep the gig at Fox.
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:58pmYea but you could use the argument about Trump with these two then. They say Trump is sucking the life out the “narrative” then so can Huckabore and Romneycare, since neither has a chance. No way Im voting for any republicant RINO progressive!
No more good ol boys club candidates we need new blood ie Cain, West, Christi ppl who havent run or are clearly against the establishment
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:35pmHuckaby needs a simple statement:
“Nope, no running for POTUS.”
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:36pmOne thought just occured to me, imagine if we had a Huckabee – Trump ticket (either variation of POTUS and VPOTUS)?
That would clinch it easily for either Obama or Hillary in 2012.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:45pmSorry Huckee( RINOS need not apply) but you can vote for Bachman, Palin or West during the 2012 election.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 7:13pmyo elmer gantry..go home …..no more closet libs…
Report Post »BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 7:14pmThere is a huge difference between men. Some men have it, some men don’t. What is IT ??? I don’t know that I could define. However, I do know when I see a man with IT. In my opinion, Huckabee does not have IT. Allen West does. The difference between these men is apparent even to the casual observer. I have nothing against Huckabee…he seems to be a good man. I just don’t think he is a good presidential candidate.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 8:00pmGive it up Mike, if you ran you would be wasting your money,I like Mr. Huckabee but not for President and the only way i would cast him my vote if he were the one to get the Rep. nonimee,but i just don’t see him getting it
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 8:34pmI will not vote for this man
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 9:29pmYes, Huckabee will run; he likes the attention. Huckabee is a PROGRESSIVE, a TAX RAISER while Governor and though he might make a better President than Obama, IS THIS THE BEST WE CAN DO?
I pray God sends us a LEADER of character and integity.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 10:14pmHuckabee will run although he knows he doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to make a living, just like Palin. Unlike Palin, he can perform in a debate. He’ll do it simply to raise his profile, write a book, and demand more from FOX as a commentator.
He’s seems like decent enough guy. He flirted with bothersome (that didn’t go well), but he’s unwilling to throw the muck like Palin and Trump and frankly, I think he actually has some opinions grounded in faith and character. Unfortunately for him, that’s not what Republicans are looking for now. They need a lot more “against Obama” stuff, and need to steer clear of any actual heartfelt opinions.
Report Post »SonOfaCommunist
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:20amHuckster – just stay home…don’t waste our time! Didn’t want you the first time around, remember?
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:54amThe thought of Huckabee running makes me want to fall asleep, like Rumple stilskin
Report Post »revel222
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 2:26amDon’t run and screw things up for this serious election!! We must win this time and you cannot!!
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:10pmHere we go with the tinfoil hat nominees. Do we have any candidates worth a darn yet? Do we need to start a write in campaign for “none of the above” like was done in a movie?
Report Post »travlman77
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:08pmI agree
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