Mike Huckabee: Difference between revisions
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'''Mike Huckabee''' (born Michael Dale Huckabee, 24 August 1955), an American politician and former Governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007, is a leading contender for the [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican Party nomination]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]]. Almost unknown in mid 2007, he climbed the polls steadily and won the closely watched Iowa caucus on Jan. 3, 2007. His base of support comprises "born again" evangelical Christians, | '''Mike Huckabee''' (born Michael Dale Huckabee, 24 August 1955), an American politician and former Governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007, is a leading contender for the [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican Party nomination]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]]. Almost unknown in mid 2007, he climbed the polls steadily and won the closely watched Iowa caucus on Jan. 3, 2007. His base of support comprises "born again" evangelical Christians, who comprise 35% of the GOP voters.<ref>. Evangelicals comprise 48%-68% of Republicans in the South and border states, 47% in Iowa, and only 11% in New Hampshire. Andrew Kohut, "The G.O.P.’s Unanswered Question," [http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/the-gops-unanswered-question/ ''New York Times'' Jan. 11, 2008]</ref> Huckabee, after many years as a television personality and motivational speaker, combines conservative policy positions with a winsome friendly attitude that puts voters at ease. He has been attacked as a tax-and-spend liberal, especially by rival [[Fred Thompson]].<ref>See criticism reported by Jennifer Rubin, "Romney and Huckabee: Club for Growth Comparisons," [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081 from ''Human Events'' Aug. 24, 2007] </ref>.His funding base is meager, but national polls put him in first or second place, with [[John McCain]], his main rival. | ||
[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-192.html#polls current national polls] | [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-192.html#polls current national polls] |
Revision as of 04:14, 13 January 2008
Mike Huckabee (born Michael Dale Huckabee, 24 August 1955), an American politician and former Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, is a leading contender for the Republican Party nomination in the 2008 presidential election. Almost unknown in mid 2007, he climbed the polls steadily and won the closely watched Iowa caucus on Jan. 3, 2007. His base of support comprises "born again" evangelical Christians, who comprise 35% of the GOP voters.[1] Huckabee, after many years as a television personality and motivational speaker, combines conservative policy positions with a winsome friendly attitude that puts voters at ease. He has been attacked as a tax-and-spend liberal, especially by rival Fred Thompson.[2].His funding base is meager, but national polls put him in first or second place, with John McCain, his main rival.
Huckabee is the author of health books featuring his exercie and weight-loss exercise program, and bass guitar player for his rock band, Capitol Offense. Before he entered politics he was formerly a minister in Southern Baptist churches in Arkansas.
Early Career
Huckabee was born and raised in Hope, Arkansas of a working class family. He did not overlap with Bill Clinton (1946- ) who was also born in Hope but left as a small child. Huckabee in his early teens became a radio announcer and preacher. He attended nearby Oachita Baptist College (BA 1975), and studied theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas (1976-80, no degree.) He was minister at Baptist churches in Pine Bluff and Texarkana, Arkansas in the 1980s, gaining fame for his preaching style and for his religious shows on television. He was elected in 1989 as president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention, with 490,000 members; he was elected as a moderate in opposition to the hardline conservatives.
Governor
Family
Huckabee is married to Janet (née McCain) and has three children.
Bibliography
- Barone, Michael, and Richard E, Cohen. Almanac of American Politics: 2006 (2005)
notes
- ↑ . Evangelicals comprise 48%-68% of Republicans in the South and border states, 47% in Iowa, and only 11% in New Hampshire. Andrew Kohut, "The G.O.P.’s Unanswered Question," New York Times Jan. 11, 2008
- ↑ See criticism reported by Jennifer Rubin, "Romney and Huckabee: Club for Growth Comparisons," from Human Events Aug. 24, 2007