by Jason George
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Gov. Mike Huckabee took to the stump 700 miles from the Michigan state line last night and attended a rally in Republican-heavy Lexington County, an affluent bedroom community to Columbia, the capital.
"I congratulate Mitt Romney," he said in his remarks, speaking about Michigan only about 90 seconds.
Huckabee focused the rest of his time at the microphone on the South Carolina primary this Saturday, when he predicts that he, the "first-in-the-South candidate," will win the first-in-the-South contest.
He also predicted victory in Florida.
"People have been asking who is this Huckabee fellow; where is he coming from?"
"I tell you where I'm coming from: I'm coming from you."
"On to victory, Saturday!"
`
While Huckabee stayed mostly on the issues of the economy and his faith, the two surrogates who took the stage before the governor went after Sen. John McCain, although they did not mention him by name.
"They've had their turn to fix the economy," said Mike Campbell, son of former S.C. Gov. Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
"They've had their turn to do all these different things for the country."
"We need new leadership."
Up next was David Beasley, a one-term former governor here, who was an early supporter of Huckabee's.
"I don’t want the same old crowd," he told the 300 or so people crammed into the barbeque restaurant where the rally was held.
"They've had 25 and 15 and 10 years to change Washington and they've changed. Washington changed them," he said, ironically stealing a McCain line to attack the senator.
"That's what this election is about; it's about change. It's about Washington politicians yielding to the American people."
"Mike Huckabee is about change."
• 
• 
• 
Comments
The day after, and STILL no Swamp article on Romney's big win in Michigan.
The Swamp's political coverage is actually getting worse. And it wasn't very good to begin with.
Posted by: Bruce | January 16, 2008 9:16 AM
Don't fall for Mike Huckabee he is a taxer look at his record in Arkansas--he pardoned too many felons.
We need a real conservative for tax cuts, limited government, less regulation,freedom to pursue our dreams without nanny environmental wackos killing our rights in the name of Al Gore's religion.
Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson are by far better than Huckabee or McCain. Let's win and stop being stuck on stupid.Don't let liberal socialists tell us who to be for. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | January 16, 2008 9:28 AM
I think Mike Hucakabee is the best thing that has happened to a presidential election in years!
Posted by: Mitzi | January 16, 2008 10:03 AM
I am a Huckabee supporter. I am not an evangelical. Pundits need to see that Huckabee's messages on economy, immigration, military position, etc. are speaking to many many Americans.
Posted by: Laura | January 16, 2008 11:13 AM
I know who this Huckster is, do you?
Candidate Research - Know Who You're Voting For ( The Easy Way ) http://tinyurl.com/2sowta
Posted by: Winghunter | January 16, 2008 11:46 AM
Huckabee is a RELIGIOUS EXTREMIST.
"I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God," Huckabee said Monday night in Warren, Mich. "And that's what we need to do, is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards, rather than try to change God's standards."
If I don't believe the bible like he does, he is going change the constitution to force his religion on me. Huckabee is scary.
Posted by: Joe C | January 16, 2008 4:52 PM
South Carolina will probably prove to be THE most pivotal primary of the republican nominating process. To any Huckabee supporters at heart out there I would say - there will likely never be a better time than now to invest some financial support in Mike's campaign. Mike has done amazingly well so far on a very small budget. Let's not ask him to run THIS race at a twenty to one disadvantage in funds! Imagine all the positive effects of having a man like Mike in the highest office in our country for the next four to eight years. It's effect in so many ways could hardly be measured!
Posted by: michael litzau | January 16, 2008 5:41 PM
It is very sad to see desperate Fred Thompson attempting to hide his weak accomplishments and old age by expressing himself forcefully against Huckabee!
Posted by: David, Oregon City | January 16, 2008 7:51 PM
Today, the following businessmen from Arkansas released a statement in support of former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee: Scott T. Ford, President and CEO, Alltel Corporation; Warren A. Stephens, President and CEO, Stephens Inc.; Madison Murphy, Former Chairman, Murphy Oil Corporation; John Tyson, Chairman of the Board, Tyson Foods, Inc; and French Hill, Chairman and CEO, Delta Trust and Banking Corporation:
"We are a traditionally bi-partisan group of executives of several of the largest corporations headquartered in the State of Arkansas, each with considerable exposure to the Administration of Governor Mike Huckabee. Of late, Governor Huckabee has attracted what we believe to be unwarranted criticism regarding his business record."
"Our experience with Governor Huckabee indicates that he not only values greatly the freedoms of religion and liberty, but of the free market as well. He is an atypical leader who garnered the respect of not only the professional business community but of the working men and women across our State as well."
"When he became our Governor, he inherited our long sub-standard education system, infrastructure, and regulatory climate. Under his leadership, we were able to grow our businesses, increase our employment, reduce our litigation exposure and enjoy, along with all of our fellow Arkansans, a healthier economy, improved schools, updated highways, and new healthcare delivery facilities."
"In our support of Governor Huckabee's truly conservative, small government business outlook and his pragmatic, yet compassionate style of governing, we invite you to look past the shallow rhetoric of yet another campaign season to see what we have experienced first hand - that with the right political leadership in place, businesses and citizens can jointly prosper and as they do, they contribute so much more to the economic and societal fabric of a community than simply tax revenues."
Posted by: David, Oregon City | January 16, 2008 8:25 PM
hey guys, Governor Huckabee is asking for help in order to claim this a victory in SC.
Mike is asking you to give just a bit more. The way I see it, I would drive a few hours to support him at a rally. The problem is that I am thousands of miles away.
I am asking that you give Mike the money it would cost for one tank of gas. We all would do that I think. This is the time to help him! This was my third donation and I know it's hard to squeeze blood from a turnip, but if we want Mike to get enough vote, he needs money.
Donate at the link below or just go to his website directly at www.mikehuckabee.com
Put my donor code of 2591 if you want.
Here is the link, lets rally behind Mike! Give him that money from one tank of gas, no matter what size your car is! God Bless!
https://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Contribute.Home&r=2591
Dan Campbell
Posted by: Dan Campbell | January 17, 2008 3:09 AM