by Rick Pearson
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he's seeing a recent uptick in his fundraising after a slow third quarter and says it didn't hurt that action star Chuck Norris's endorsement last Monday has given him a new idea to attract Iowa caucus goers.
Of course, Huckabee's narrow second place finish in last weekend's "values-voter" forum straw poll in Washington held by the conservative Family Research Council may have helped do more to elevate the former governor's name since his second place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames in August.
Still, said Huckabee (pictured above), don't underestimate the Norris (pictured at right) factor.
"I think now people are afraid not to vote for me," Huckabee said before he appeared at the Iowa Republican Party's seventh annual Reagan fundraising dinner.
"We're going to put Chuck on their doorstep and he's going to put his right heel on the right side of their faces if they don't help us in the caucuses. That's our new strategy."
Huckabee said he "never met or talked to" Norris but said his choice of a candidate was "obviously indicative of the fact that Chuck Norris is an incredibly intellectual-superior human being as well as a physical specimen of great renown."
So is fear the new message of the Huckabee campaign?
"I'd be afraid of him, and I hope the rest of the world would be to," Huckabee said.
Huckabee said he plans to spend more time in Iowa cultivating Republicans and recently moved more staff into the state as well as his daughter, Sarah. "We know we've got to make this a real key place to us," Huckabee said. "I'm confident that by the caucus night we will be in good shape and have a great night here."
Huckabee acknowledged that he was getting criticism from some fiscal conservatives over his tax policies as Arkansas governor but said his record was "an incredibly good one."
"The fact that now I'm under relentless attack is an indication somebody thinks I'm alive and well," he said. "Before it's over, there'll be people accusing me of everything from the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa to the Kennedy assassination."
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Comments
Oh yeah, I'm afraid of a second-rate "actor" who sells crappy third-rate fitness equipment.
Posted by: Travis | October 27, 2007 8:53 PM
The Hollywood liberals are behind Huck??
Posted by: C.Morris | October 27, 2007 9:30 PM
Huckabee has passed the threshold of credibility in the polls where people now can vote for him and not be afraid that he can't win. He can win now.
America needs a spiritual politician. He is the real deal, and he is going places!
Posted by: Oscar | October 27, 2007 9:46 PM
On No Travis...quick; take it back!!!
If you can see Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris can see you, If you cant see Chuck Norris...you may have only seconds to live.
The boogie man checks his closet at night for chuck norris
Chuck norris sleeps with a night light because the dark is afraid of him
ok thats enough...
Posted by: Matt | October 27, 2007 9:51 PM
I posted this comet on digg when Norris first mentioned Mike.... With respect to your vote and our nation please take the time to read my post and consider the points presented.
I have sought tough answers from Mike's campaign office and one of his campaign supporters returned my call I think he is from GA. He has never answered my questions in detail and only provided a vague reply to my question regarding the IMF and seldom follows up. In fact he was supposed to call me back two weeks ago and I still have not heard from him.
My questions were:
What would Mike do to oppose the IMF's request to devalue the dollar by 20%. His contact gave me a vague answer just like Mike did in person in Iowa. Why? How can anyone support Mike is he doesn't have a firm understanding of our major economic issues?
My second question: Does he support or oppose the NAU? No real firm answer on this either.
My third question: Why does Mike have a friendly relationship with the Rockefeller clan? Please note the Rockefeller's support the eugenics projects to change and alter life, they support world government and David Rockefeller has gone on record to say he is trying to undermine our nation (it's in his own book).
So I sent my research assistant to Arkansas last week and she found some topics of great concern regarding Mike. We are reviewing the documents and I will post a press release on prweb.com in the days or weeks to come about our findings. I have to have my article reviewed by a lawyer before we present it because I have to make sure I have grounds to stand on in case mike begins to make an issue out of it.
I can say months ago I did consider him as a candidate but I would never vote for mike especially the details we have found out.
Just a few facts which I can support with documents.... Mike ran the state much like a democrate he raised taxes and was not favoralbe to small business.... He states he is a small gov type but he does not have the track record to prove such notion.
I'm also concerned that Chuck would not support someone who supports the rule of law... You know that Chuck guy on TV really does support the rule of law but it appears the real chuck does not.
Mr. Norris i request that you reconsider your support and consider the recent debates as just reason to change your mind.
Here is why:
Mike did not state he would follow or seek a passage of congress to begin a war. This is a requirement as commander and chief and no one but Ron Paul will follow this.
Mike also went on to say in a prior debate that we need to stay in Iraq due to our honor.... Excuse me but honor can never be obtained if the war began as a fraud with continued lies by our president. We see no honor in supporting a lie and having any more of our soldiers killed just to save face.
He also went on to say "it didn't matter if the price of oil went to 6.00 a gallon." Yet it does matter to the poor and the lower middle class who stopped buying high octane long ago and skip a family meal out just to pay for gas to complete the daily grind. Will Mike have the confidence of the people who will be hurt buy a false since of honor? For sure we have seen this type of attitude with Bush who will not change his mind even when he is killing our nation and everyone else just sits around and watches as it happens.
Also, Bush has already declared victory in Iraq so it's our duty to bring our troops home right now! At the moment we have broken international laws by occupying the nation of Iraq and I for one would end if it I had the power to do so but I know Ron Paul would.
Mr. Norris,
How can you support a candidate who supports the lies of the war in Iraq while millions of Iraq women, men and children have fled the nation? What honor is found with a broken nation? The people of Iraq just want us out.
How can you support a candidate who does not have an understanding of the IMF"s threat to your economic issues?
When I asked Mike in Iowa what he would do to bring the troops home he implied they would stay in Iraq for a long time. I have all of Mikes answers on tape.
Why would you support Mike with his relation to the Rockefeller who state they plan to undermine out nation?
I think your fans deserve the answers to the questions I offered. Please provide the answers for all to review.
Posted by: Darel99 | October 27, 2007 9:51 PM
Huckabee and evolution. Things that make ya go hmmm...maybe the world is still flat too.
Nice guy though.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 27, 2007 10:45 PM
Huckabee is SURGING!!!!!
Posted by: chris | October 28, 2007 10:33 AM
I like Huckabee and I would love to have the chance to vote FOR him, not just against Hillary.
Can't stand Rudy...no different then Bill, in my opinion, though he did marry his "intern"...
As for his conservative beliefs..AMEN! Huckabee says he doesn't know HOW the world was made, he just feels that God did it. What is the big shock in that...MOST Americans believe that!
So...Help Huck ...Give a buck!
Posted by: Maggie_Tx | October 28, 2007 12:50 PM
Good grief. Lighten up, guys. A little humor and some people get all prickly.
Regarding monetary policy - give me a break. There are economists who can't speak off the cuff with credibility regarding all the topics you want a policy statement for. Huckabee is doesn't have teams of professionals campaigning with him. When he's President he'll hire advisers. I can tell you with his concern about the Law of the Sea treaty that the UN is pushing - he will care about monetary policy that will be America's best interest. He cares about the working people.
Finally, he did NOT say he didn't believe in Evolution. But if that is your religion, he is tolerant. (smile) He did say that as a Christian, he believes that however the world came into being, God was the instigator. The Creator, if you will. Or the Catalyst, if you prefer. Don't get bent out of shape about it. Trust him. He doesn't stay up at night worrying about it. You shouldn't either. Evolutionary theory won't be outlawed if he gets elected. (smile).
Mike Huckabee's one of the good guys. He's a true Conservative closer to Reagan Conservatism than Giuliani, Romney or Thompson.
Posted by: nanellen | October 28, 2007 1:54 PM
Huckabee would be a truly great President and would be able to bring the country together again. The Rasmussen daily tracking poll has him ahead of Romney now nationally, so he may actually be a strong contender by the time the primaries begin.
By the way, Chuck Norris is NOT a Hollywood liberal. He is a conservative.
Posted by: Diron | October 28, 2007 9:32 PM
Mike Huckabee our next president!!! YES YES YES!!!!
Posted by: Reva | October 29, 2007 5:18 AM
Mike Huckabee would have been a passable preznit...in the 18th century.
Unfortunately for him and his wingnut supporters, after 7+ years of ignorant, incompetent Republic party rule, the country has had enough. Oh, and nanellen, the topics that Darel99 mentioned are 11th grade level. If Huckleberry can't figure them out, then perhaps you've enjoyed these past 7 years with another moron at the helm.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | October 29, 2007 7:54 AM
Huckabee will never get the right wingers vote - he has said nice things about Bill and Hillary Clinton - and especially Chelsea.
Can't be a Republican unless you HATE the Clintons.
Posted by: BobinATL | October 29, 2007 11:58 AM
Mike did not state he would follow or seek a passage of congress to begin a war. This is a requirement as commander and chief and no one but Ron Paul will follow this.
That is actually an inaccurate statement, the President does not need to seek Congressional approval to start a war, technically, all he is required to do, is report to Congress as part of the War Powers Act, which demands accountability, not impeding upon the President's ability to conduct a war.
However, Ron Paul is not intelligent enough to realize, Congress will NEVER declare war unless its so blatantly obvious....and it has to be even more obvious than 9/11. The fact is, Congress will probably never declare war again, they will only fund "Conflicts"
War is such a messy title to use in politics today....unless to smear an opponent or person.
Posted by: AlexIA | October 29, 2007 10:14 PM
Well, that's it. Huckabee has already won. Chuck Norris means instant victory.
Posted by: ninjast4r | January 6, 2008 7:10 PM