Mike Huckabee 2012 Presidential Campaign
Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee alerted the media yesterday that he will announce on Saturday, May 14th if he will run for President in 2012. The announcement will be made live during Huckabee’s weekly Fox News television show (8pm Eastern time). If you want to know more about why I support Governor Huckabee, please read My Visit with Mike Huckabee.
Hannah and I visit with Mike Huckabee in November 2007
Personally, I want him to run, but I don’t think he will, not this time. Some reasons why I think this:
- President Obama may be difficult to beat, and strategically, it might be better for the Governor to wait until 2016 when there is no incumbent. It is a lot harder for candidates to gain traction when they have been two-time losers in previous runs.
- The media continues to minimize Huckabee. They refer to Romney has having come in second to McCain, when in reality it was Governor Huckabee.
- Speaking of Mitt Romney, the media has declared “it is his turn” (not sure why it’s his turn). If Romney doesn’t get the nomination (or wins the nomination and loses to Obama), he will have used up “his turn” and be out of the picture in 2016.
- Ron Paul will be 81 in 2016.
- Seriously, maybe Governor Huckabee is simply enjoying what he is currently doing: supporting conservative candidates at every level of government; hosting his Fox News show; his radio show “The Huckabee Report”; supporting the arts in public schools; and writing books.
- Whatever he decides, here in the OneMom household, we will always love “our Huckabee” (a phrase coined by my daughter after she met him in person).
Until tonight …
OneMom
I’m guessing it’s a “Not Running” announcement. I really hope I am wrong. You need to add a Herman Cain tag. All I can say right now is that I know who I’m not voting for (Romney, Trump, Huntsman, Obama).
Hi Vince .. who’s Herman Cain? Guess I haven’t been paying very good attention.
The WSJ reported that top aides are saying he’s not running. i think Vince is correct.
I also agree with Vince’s list (especially Romney), and would add Gingrich and Santorum.
When it comes to Gingrich, OneMom, you may appreciate my primary reason why. My mother was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2005. She fought a brave battle and died two years later. My father stood with her and they fought together. He cries about it to this day (we all do), but it was one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever witnessed. Obviously, I’m proud to be his son.
Gingrich? When his wife was diagnosed with cancer he ditched her to run off with his secretary. I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t hire the man to mow my lawn. That’s just a personal judgment.
Hi Ted – you notice I didn’t mention Gingrich … he is a “non-entity” for me, for all the reasons you stated. Your dad sounds like a wonderful, honorable man … it’s nice to know there are still people who will do the right thing, even when it is the hardest thing of all.
Country Thinker, that sums up my view of Rep. Gingrich perfectly. The idea that he gives speeches about values and integrity makes my skin crawl.
As for Gov. Huckabee, I suspect he’ll be sitting this one out, too. The Republican field looks like it’s going to be another bloodletting, with a whole lot of competing interests and sides. I wouldn’t want to get into it.
The Republican party needs to sort out what it wants, what it stands for, and how offshoots like the tea parties, talk radio, libertarians, and whatnot relate before it looks viable for a White House run. Pres. Obama should be vulnerable this go-round, but I’m thinking he’s going to be able to run away with this by the time the circular firing squad that is a GOP primary process is over.
KenLeonard recently posted..Quote of the Day – 5-14-2011
Hi Ken – “circular firing squad” … that’s a good description of the GOP primary process. I will be really surprised if Governor Huckabee enters the arena this cycle. His show came on about 13 minutes ago – I was hoping the announcement would be first thing, but looks like it will come at the end of the show.
The GOP will remain a “cricular firing squad” as long as the core values of the established leaders can be summed up in 3 words: “follow the money.”
Yeah, I wish I could take credit for “circular firing squad,” but I heard it somewhere. Still, I think it’s applicable.
Until Republican candidates can treat each other with some kind of respect even as they compete, I think that even the winner of a GOP primary will be so battered by the general election that it’s tough to do anything.
KenLeonard recently posted..Quote of the Day – 5-14-2011
Country Thinker nailed that one, too. As long as the GOP’s leadership is more interested in self-enrichment than statesmanship, the GOP is more or less toast.
By the way, NPR tends to refer to Gov. Huckabee as the candidate who had the second-most delegates in the 2008 campaign. I just heard that mentioned in a discussion about how he and Trump aren’t running in 2012. (For the record, the two were described as being on different planes … Trump was “never a serious candidate” and Gov. Huckabee was “at or near the top of early polls”).
KenLeonard recently posted..Quote of the Day – 5-14-2011
Ken – unfortunately, as long as the GOP continues this trend, we are all toast.