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With Romney Out, Huckabee Swipes at McCain
February 09, 2008 7:37 PM
ABC News' Kevin Chupka reports: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee just won't go away.
For the past week, he has been loud and proud about sticking in this race until one candidate has the necessary delegates to take the nomination. With only Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., between the governor and the stage in Minneapolis/St. Paul this summer, Huckabee, who has, so far, played nice when it comes to the Arizona senator, looks to be taking off the gloves.
In a press conference meant to tout his victory in Saturday's Kansas caucuses, Huckabee was asked about an e-mail from McCain's Virginia co-chair, Chris Saxman, regarding pro-Huckabee push polling in Virginia. "It is time for Mike Huckabee to accept responsibility for these despicable tactics," wrote Saxman. "Take a stronger stand against them, and help unite the party, as many prominent GOP leaders have done."
Huckabee shot back from his podium at the Washington, D.C., Marriott, "if anyone needs to take responsibility, it's John McCain, because McCain Feingold Campaign Finance act creates that nonsense." He later added, "So, if Sen. McCain hadn't pushed that bill through, created a stifling of free speech for some groups and an opening for others, we wouldn't be having this discussion today; so, for his people to call on me to stop it, has to be one of the most bizarre comments in this election cycle."
The comments overshadowed an impressive victory in the heartland, where Huckabee ran away with the Kansas caucuses by an almost 3 to 1 margin.
"We have overwhelmingly won conservative votes," Huckabee told the gathered press. "It shows that, while people in Washington and insiders continue to, maybe, gravitate toward the senator's campaign, people across America are gravitating toward our campaign, and realizing that there is still a choice."
Also of note, Huckabee commented on claims that Texas Governor Rick Perry had called him and suggested he drop out of the race.
Huckabee was reticent, earlier in the day, to comment publicly on what he deemed a private phone call, but when some media outlets ran with the story, citing a senior campaign official, Huckabee felt obliged to tell the tale.
"He thought that, maybe I should do what others have done, and say it's over, let's have the coronation, and I told him, while I appreciate it, with all due respect, since he was already on someone else's team, I had to discount his advice, since he had a vested interest in me not winning and McCain winning -- had he been my endorser, I would have taken that quite seriously, but since he was endorsing my opponent, the recommendation rang a little hollow."
Huckabee did make sure to say that the conversation was "cordial."
February 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (15)
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MIKE HUCKABEE said it well when he said there are still 27 states left and they want an election not a coronation. The media keeps telling us who is the likely winner - well they said that about Giuliani a few months ago. This election is far from over in both parties. But Mike is proving to be a leader with integrity. I LIKE MIKE !!
Posted by: A Red Robin | Feb 9, 2008 10:44:36 PM
I also like Mike! He has proved to be the only true conservative from this election! We support you Mike Huckabee!!!
Posted by: Rossanna | Feb 9, 2008 11:12:10 PM
What is Huckabee trying to prove? There is no chance of winning the nomination. I guess he doesn't have anything else to do.
Posted by: ComeOn | Feb 9, 2008 11:15:16 PM
Huck reminds me of a little dog yapping at a passing car. You show 'em, Mike!
Posted by: ComeOn | Feb 9, 2008 11:16:34 PM
Mike is not a leader--he's disingenuously living off the donations of people who think he still has a chance. He would have to win 83% of the remaining delegates to win, people, and that just won't happen and he knows it. I am amazed the media spends ANY time on him.
Posted by: ComeOn | Feb 9, 2008 11:21:50 PM
Nothing is finial into there stands only one left. Huckabee is syanding into the end which is what we should be looking for in a president. He may be far from McCain however will a small chance of catching up but he still has a chance.
Posted by: Angel | Feb 10, 2008 12:20:30 AM
Huckabee represents alot of people without a voice in this campaign. The media and the northerner's have been biased against him from the start. He is a seriouse candidate with a proven 11 year tract record as a great leader. Stop hating him becouse he believes in Christ. Where is all of that constitutional freedom of religion, you guys keep talking about. Should he not be taken seriously just becouse he is a Christian ? Stop hating!
Posted by: I-hate-murder | Feb 10, 2008 1:43:33 AM
I am glad Huckabee is staying the race -
it proves his willingness to fight for what he believes in. I wish the news media would cover him more. It's not fair that all canidates are not covered equally. I am not saying cover Mccain less but to cover Huckabee more. I believe if equal coverage was granted to all canidates the American people would be better informed from the coverage & not moved by projected frontrunners.
Posted by: Tisha | Feb 10, 2008 1:44:28 AM
"Where is all of that constitutional freedom of religion"
However, a candidate who wants to change the constitution to reflect more "Christian values" is NOT what this country was founded on!
Posted by: Logic | Feb 10, 2008 2:27:59 AM
You know, it’s funny how this country was founded by those who were prosecuted for their faith. Those who were prosecuted in England wrote the constitution free of religion.
Now those who run our country, and some running for presidency (Huckabee), want the rest of society to adhere to their beliefs.
The separation between church and state is essential however that border seems to be getting thinner and thinner.
It’s fine if the leaders of our country are religious, it shows character. However, constitutional rights should not be changed or amended based on what others think is "righteous".
Posted by: Say no to Religious Fanatics | Feb 10, 2008 2:41:26 AM
I would like to comment on the remarks of "Say No to Relgious Fanatics." He says Huckabee "wants the rest of society to adhere to their beliefs." This person is misinformed. Governor Huckabee has made it clear in numerous debates that he respects the freedom of religon (or no religion) as a bedrock tenet of our constitution. Several times he was asked to comment on theological issues such as the role of a man and woman in marriage. He stated that his beliefs had nothing to do with the presidency and then briefly explained them as a courtesy.
I think the real issue in this campaign is the arrogant presumption that says to Governor Huckabee that he should defer for the "good of the party" as if the many states he has won and the millions of citizens who voted for him are irrelevant. It's comparable to the identity politics that the Clinton campaign was so vigorously chided over when they seemed to play the race card. Because Governor Huckabee is an open Christian, opposition to him smacks of the worst kind of bigotry and if it continues could blow up the Republican party.
Governor Huckabee represents a sector of the electorate who will not be pushed aside any longer and be the lapdog of the Republican party. There an many in this country whose first allegiance is not to the party, but to the values that that party should uphold and represent. So the call to "unity" rings hollow when values concerns and priorities receive simple lip service. We must stand for fundamental values now and not acquiesce to the cultural drift or pressures. Perhaps this might result in the loss of an election. In the end, though, it will mean that there remains a real values-based alternative in the poltical landscape and hope for our future.
Posted by: David | Feb 10, 2008 11:13:28 AM
Huckabee is for freedom of religion as long as he thinks your religion is the same as his. He did make the statement that he felt he would make the best president as he would bring the government in line with what God wants. While I am a Christian and believe in God, I think Huckabee is a fraud. How can you preach the love of God when you truely have hate for others beliefs just because you don't understand them. If I weren't a Christian I sure wouldn't think of becoming one by his example and by his speaking with a fork tongue.
Posted by: Lets keep freedom | Feb 10, 2008 7:33:39 PM
Dave, your reasoning makes no sense or it may be that you're the one that's misinformed...
Huckabee has said that he wants to change the constitution to reflect more Christian values.
If that is not a push to make others do as they believe, then I don't know what is...
Posted by: Logic | Feb 10, 2008 10:07:41 PM
Logic
How bout some cold hard common sense for you on the Huck?
Huck ain't gonna go changing the Constitution at all. Huck loves the constitution.
Huck is just gonna make sure we got judges who interpret the consitution as it was written....... not in manner that as radical activist judges have contorted into.
Mayhaps you been paying too much attention to the soundbites that media elites spew forth.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Feb 11, 2008 10:34:55 AM
Common sense lacks logic since its subjective...
Posted by: Pebbles | Feb 12, 2008 2:54:19 AM
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