Mike Huckabee

===2008 presidential election campaign===

{{Main|Mike Huckabee 2008 presidential campaign}}
{{See also|2008 United States presidential election}}
Huckabee announced his run for the White House on ''Meet the Press'' on January 28, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 29, 2007 |title=Huckabee, the Jared Candidate? |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2007/01/29/the-jared-candidate |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}<br />{{cite web |date=January 28, 2007 |title=Former AR Governor Mike Huckabee to Explore Presidential Bid |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/huckabee/huck012807pr.html |publisher=[[George Washington University]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

At the August 11 [[Iowa Straw Poll (1979-2011)|Iowa Straw Poll]], Huckabee took second place with 2,587 votes, roughly 18 percent, splitting the conservative Republican party votes amongst other candidates.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930102253/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1652210,00.html What Iowa's Straw Poll Tells the GOP]" Time Online, August 11, 2007</ref> Huckabee spent $57.98 per vote in the Straw Poll, which is the lowest among the top three finishers.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 12, 2007 |last=Lawrence |first=Jill |title=Straw Poll: Huckabee Spent Just $58 Per Vote For 2nd Place and Revived Prospects |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2007/08/163446/1 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee drew attention with an unconventional ad featuring [[Chuck Norris]].<ref>{{cite video | people = Mike Huckabee, Chuck Norris |title=HuckChuckFacts |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/EjYv2YW6azE| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live| medium = television ad}}{{cbignore}} {{cite news |last=Patton |first=Christopher |title=Candidate ads play nice |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=November 28, 2007 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/7075.html |access-date=December 21, 2007}}</ref> In a later ad Huckabee wished voters a merry Christmas, and said that "what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ."<ref>{{cite video | people = Mike Huckabee |title=What really Matters |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xn7uSHtkuA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/8xn7uSHtkuA| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live| medium = television ad}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2007, Huckabee drew endorsements from a large number of religious activists, including [[Billy McCormack (Louisiana pastor)|Billy McCormack]], a pastor in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], Louisiana, and a director and vice president of the [[Christian Coalition of America]], founded in 1988 by a previous presidential candidate, [[Pat Robertson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pastors4huckabeeblog.com/prominent-pastors-christian-leaders-who-have-endorsed-huckabee/|title=Prominent Pastors and Christian Leaders Who Have Endorsed Huckabee|publisher=pastors4huckabeeblog.com|access-date=June 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711175928/http://pastors4huckabeeblog.com/prominent-pastors-christian-leaders-who-have-endorsed-huckabee/|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> He was criticized for using a bookshelf that resembled a cross in a Christmas commercial as a form of signaling to Christians, and laughed them off saying "I will confess this: If you play the spot backwards, it says, '[[Paul is dead]]. Paul is dead.{{'"}}<ref>Staff and Wire Reports for the Dallas News. December 20, 2007 [https://web.archive.org/web/20080919043143/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-huckabee_20nat.ART.State.Edition1.36c953b.html Huckabee defends religious-themed Christmas ad]</ref><ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/20/politics/main3636407.shtml Politics, Now Wrapped in Holiday Cheer] CBS News, December 21, 2007</ref> He also faced a "drumbeat" of questions about the role of faith in his gubernatorial administration and about past statements he made in 1998 about the U.S. being a "Christian nation" in which he said, "I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ." Huckabee told NBC that his comment was not politically incorrect and was "appropriate to be said to a gathering of Southern Baptists".<ref>{{cite news |date=December 31, 2007 |last=Sidoti |first=Liz |title=Huckabee Stands by 'Christ' Comment |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-12-30-4030361336_x.htm |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee has credited God with some of his political success.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Politics/story?id=3960611&page=1 Matter of Faith: Vote God 2008] December 5, 2007</ref>

On January 3, 2008, Huckabee won the [[2008 Iowa Republican caucuses|Iowa Republican caucuses]], receiving 34% of the electorate and 17 delegates, compared with the 25% of [[Mitt Romney]], who finished second, receiving 12 delegates; [[Fred Thompson]], who came in third place and received three delegates; [[John McCain]], who came in fourth place and received three delegates; and [[Ron Paul]], who came in fifth place and received two delegates.

[[File:Norrishuckabee.JPG|thumb|Huckabee with actor [[Chuck Norris]] in [[Londonderry, New Hampshire|Londonderry]], New Hampshire (2008)]]
On January 8, 2008, Huckabee finished in third place in the [[New Hampshire primary]], behind [[John McCain]] in first place, and [[Mitt Romney]] who finished second, with Huckabee receiving one more delegate for a total of 18 delegates, gained via elections, and 21 total delegates, versus 30 total (24 via elections) for Romney, and 10 for McCain (all via elections).

On January 15, 2008, Huckabee finished in third place in the [[2008 Michigan Republican primary]], behind [[John McCain]] in second place; [[Mitt Romney]], who finished first; and ahead of [[Ron Paul]], who finished in fourth place.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#MI |title=CNN Politics Election Center 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/miprimaries/miprimaryjan080115.html |title=Overall Michigan Results |newspaper=[[Politico]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Huckabee SC concession.JPG|thumb|left|Huckabee giving a speech following the South Carolina 2008 presidential primary in [[Columbia, SC]]]]
On January 19, 2008, Huckabee finished in second place in the [[2008 South Carolina Republican primary]], behind [[John McCain]], who finished first and ahead of [[Fred Thompson]], who finished third.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#SC | publisher=[[CNN]] | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results – Elections & Politics news from CNN.com}}</ref>

On January 29, 2008, Huckabee finished in fourth place in the Florida primary, behind [[Rudy Giuliani]] in third, [[Mitt Romney]] in second, and [[John McCain]] in first place.

On January 21, 2008, Huckabee received the endorsement of 50 African American leaders in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. The endorsers cited Huckabee's record on abortion, education, minorities, the economy, the prison system, and immigration as Arkansas governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/21/politics/fromtheroad/entry3735143.shtml |title=Huckabee Courts Black Vote |last=Lin |first=Joy |date=January 21, 2008 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> However, NBC reported that the endorsement of African American leaders at the Atlanta event was 36, and "most of them connected to conservative religious organizations".<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative black leaders endorse Huckabee|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/22771493/ns/politics-decision_08/t/conservative-black-leaders-endorse-huckabee/|agency=NBC News|date=January 21, 2008}}</ref>

On February 5, 2008, Huckabee won the first contest of "[[Super Tuesday]]", the [[West Virginia]] GOP state [[Political convention|convention]], but only after the McCain campaign provided their delegates, thereby giving Huckabee 52% of the electorate to [[Mitt Romney]]'s 47%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0208/Romney_loses_West_Virginia_.html |title=Romney Loses West Virginia! |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Backers of rival [[John McCain]] said they threw Huckabee their support to prevent Mitt Romney from capturing the winner-take-all GOP state convention vote.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 2008 |title=Huckabee wins 18 W.Va. GOP delegates with help from McCain |url=http://abclocal.go.com/story?section=news/politics&id=5937117 |publisher=[[ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=January 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106232356/http://abclocal.go.com/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=5937117 |archive-date=January 6, 2015 }}</ref> Consequently, he also registered victories in [[Alabama]], [[Arkansas]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Tennessee]] on Super Tuesday, bringing his delegate count up to 156, compared with 689 for Republican party front-runner [[John McCain]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html |title=Election 2008: Results: Republican Delegate Count |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 9, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916170904/http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee with a supporter at a campaign rally in Wisconsin.jpg|thumb|Huckabee with a supporter at a campaign rally in [[Wisconsin]]]]
On February 9, 2008, Huckabee won the first election following Super Tuesday, by winning 60% of the vote in the [[2008 Kansas Republican caucuses|Kansas Republican Caucuses]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#KS |title=Huckabee Wins Kansas |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref>
This was also the first contest to be held without [[Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign|Mitt Romney]], who was said to be splitting the conservative vote with Huckabee.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bill Schneider CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/05/super.exit/?iref=mpstoryview |title=Romney, Huckabee splitting conservative vote |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Huckabee also won the [[2008 Louisiana Republican presidential caucuses and primary|Louisiana Republican Primary]] with 44% of the vote to John McCain's 43% in second. Although Huckabee won the primary he was not awarded any delegates, because of state party rules that stated a candidate must pass the 50% threshold to receive the state's pledged delegates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#val=LA |title=Huckabee wins Louisiana |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref>

On March 4, 2008, Huckabee withdrew from seeking the candidacy as it became apparent he would lose in Texas, where he had hoped to win, and that [[John McCain]] would get the 1,191 delegates required to win the Republican nomination. Huckabee finished the race with 240 pledged delegates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Results: Republican Delegate Count |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/primaries/results/gopdelegates/index.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 23, 2017 }}</ref>

====Vice presidential candidate speculation====

Even though Huckabee had signed a television contract and a book deal with a pressing deadline, he was mentioned by most to be on then-presumptive Republican presidential nominee [[John McCain]]'s short list for his vice presidential [[running mate]]. The late pundit [[Tim Russert]] even referred to Huckabee as "Vice President Huckabee" several times when he appeared on ''[[Meet The Press]]'' on May 18, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/24693653 |title=Russert: Vice President Huckabee |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Huckabee was eventually passed over for [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/25970882/ns/politics-decision_08/t/vp-pick-palin-makes-appeal-women-voters |title=VP Pick Palin Makes Appeal to Women Voters |date=August 29, 2008 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref>

Former president [[Bill Clinton]] has praised Huckabee and stated that he is a rising star in the Republican Party. Clinton and Huckabee have collaborated on initiatives such as the fight against childhood obesity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/theelephant/archive/2008/01/03/bill-clinton-at-des-moines-starbucks-talks-up-huckabee-downplays-hillary-expectations.aspx |title=Bill Clinton at Des Moines Starbucks – talks up Huckabee, downplays Hillary expectations – The Elephant |publisher=Communities.canada.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607065351/http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/theelephant/archive/2008/01/03/bill-clinton-at-des-moines-starbucks-talks-up-huckabee-downplays-hillary-expectations.aspx |archive-date=June 7, 2008 }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://usliberals.about.com/od/presidentbillclinton/ig/Clinton-Foundation-Photos/BClinton---Mike-Huckabee.htm |title=Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee Announce Partnership to Fight Childhood Obesity – Clinton Foundation Photo Archives – William J. Clinton Foundation |publisher=Usliberals.about.com |date=October 20, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=December 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224184452/http://usliberals.about.com/od/presidentbillclinton/ig/Clinton-Foundation-Photos/BClinton---Mike-Huckabee.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Former Tennessee Republican Party chairman and Huckabee's former campaign manager [[Chip Saltsman]] has called Governor Huckabee, "The most successful failed presidential candidate in the history of our country".<ref>{{cite web |last=Allocca |first=Kevin |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/the_most_successful_failed_presidential_candidate_in_the_history_of_our_country_146678.asp |title=The most successful failed presidential candidate in the history of our country. |publisher=[[Mediabistro (website)|Mediabistro]] |date=December 21, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211073110/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/the_most_successful_failed_presidential_candidate_in_the_history_of_our_country_146678.asp |archive-date=February 11, 2010 }}</ref>