by Naftali Bendavid
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) did not exactly create a juggernaut in his recent presidential run, winning minimal support before dropping out of the race.
Nonetheless, today he threw whatever influence he has behind Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose own campaign is facing financial challenges after finishing a close second to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the South Carolina primary.
And Huckabee, no doubt, is happy to get the endorsement.
Here is Hunter's statement:
“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail. Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base.
"Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement. Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well. My personal choice is Mike Huckabee."
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Comments
Awesome!! I like Duncan Hunter he's a good conservative and this will help Huck.
Posted by: Jordon | January 23, 2008 3:56 PM
Duncan must be on drugs
Posted by: Mike but not Huckabee | January 23, 2008 3:56 PM
California Rep. Duncan Hunter, you are a Great American!
Posted by: David, Oregon City | January 23, 2008 4:00 PM
Mike Huckabee is perhaps the most charismatic and likable politician America has seen for the last many years. He could easily win against Clinton or Obama in the general election. It is unfortunate for the Republican party, and perhaps for the country, that the elites are conspiring to undermine his candidacy.
Does the Republican establishment not recognize that Romney is unelectable: not only because most people in this country are deeply suspicious of Mormonism, but because he comes across as a flip-flopper and a phony? McCain is perhaps slightly more acceptable to the ruling powers than is Huckabee, but he is a pariah in the eyes of many conservatives, plus he is woefully uncharismatic. And of course, Ghoul-iani is perhaps even less electable than the others.
The best , perhaps the only, chance Republicans have to win the general election is to nominate Huckabee, whose charismatic style could easily convert some Democrats and independents to his cause. Already, African-American church leaders are coming to his support in droves. Duncan Hunter's endorsement should provide a much-needed shot in the arm for Huckabee's faltering campaign.
Posted by: canaan | January 23, 2008 4:05 PM
Can see now why no one voted for him, whacky!
Posted by: RG | January 23, 2008 4:05 PM
What will Huck do with those 3 votes?
Posted by: bill r. | January 23, 2008 4:10 PM
Duncan for Huccabubba...can't get much stronger than that.
Posted by: Jim | January 23, 2008 4:17 PM
Mike Huckabee is perhaps the most charismatic and likable politician
I liked Don Knotts also, but I wouldn't vote for him.
Posted by: bill r. | January 23, 2008 4:25 PM
"THE HUNTER SPEAKS"
FORGET THE VETS, I'M WITH YOU HUCK! ROE V WADE 1ST THEN THE 22ND AMENDMENT AND THEN WE GOT BACK OUR COUNTRY.
FORGET THE PAST 7 YEARS OF AMERICAN TYRANNY. FORGET THE FACT THAT OUR PARTY ALONE HAS BROUGHT AMERICA TO THE BRINK OF CHINESE SOCIEITY AND PAY.
I'M WITH YOU HUCK, AS LONG AS YOU PARDON ME TOO.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 23, 2008 4:42 PM
Awesome
Go Mike!
Posted by: Randy | January 23, 2008 4:50 PM
This makes no sense? Duncan was as conservative as they come - how could he back Huckabee? Either he's smoking something, or he's been promised something... BIG.
Posted by: Lori P | January 23, 2008 4:59 PM
Hunter is a class act!! Great endorsement for Huckabee!
Posted by: hoosiertide | January 23, 2008 5:03 PM
Mike Huckabee has the most executive experience of any candidate running. He was re-elected Governor of Arkansas until his term limits expired. He was their Lt. Governor prior to that. He was voted one of the Best Five Governors in America by Time Magazine. He is the best communicator since Ronald Reagan. Mike Huckabee is for real and he is authentic!
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=10019&SectionID=17&SubSectionID=116&S=1
Posted by: believehuckabee | January 23, 2008 5:20 PM
I Know that if Huckabee is not nominated I'm voteing for a democrat, and there will be a long line, so now think about that.
Posted by: Daryl | January 23, 2008 6:24 PM
I Know that if Huckabee is not nominated I'm voteing for a democrat, and there will be a long line, so now think about that.
Posted by: Daryl | January 23, 2008 6:25 PM
Duncan Hunter is corrupt and we are better off without him in the race. He tried to steal Santa Rosa Island from the public (disgustingly using disabled vets as his smokescreen) as a favor to a friend. Poor excuse of an American.
Posted by: jmann | January 23, 2008 6:44 PM
Dunkin' Hunter is another one of those corrupt Republican "good ol' boy's".
There seems to be an awful lot of them now days.
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Congressman_tied_to_contractors_bribery_coconspirators_1214.html
The Huckster might want to re-think whether he really want's this guys endorsement.
Posted by: John E | January 23, 2008 7:13 PM
The elites of both the left and the right are conspiring against Mike Huckabee. The Republican elites don't like him because, unlike them, he actually cares about the poor. He actually knows what it's like to have a regular job and to worry about bills. And he actually cares about babies not only before they are born but also afterward. The liberal elites don't like him because they tend to dislike anyone who both has faith and doesn't hide or downplay it.
The level of support for Mike Huckabee is the closest thing the GOP has to the Obama supporters. The Republican party has almost no one else who can actually stand a chance of winning. Rudy is one scandal disclosure away from political oblivion and he has more dirt on him than a pitcher's mound. McCain is a great American - but he will turn 73 the year he'd be inaugurated. Romney has massive credibility problems. That's it. If the Republican elites keep eating their own, Hillary or Obama might just end up running virtually unopposed.
Posted by: TVV | January 23, 2008 10:15 PM
Was he actually running? Everything he said was like a broken record. He never tried very hard. I thought he was in the race to the convention, his campaign rarely was in Iowa. I wonder if he ran for president because he is trying to be a senator soon.
Posted by: Will DePort | January 24, 2008 12:33 AM
RE: "The level of support for Mike Huckabee is the closest thing the GOP has to the Obama supporters."
Ummmm...level of support? Huckabee raised a measly $300,000 in a recent one-day fundraiser while Ron Paul raised $6 million in one day; before that $4.2 million in one day and on MLK day $1.8 million; nearly $20 million last quarter.
Didn't Huckabee just let his paid staffers go? Perhaps they left to go work for free for Ron Paul, the "Original" defender of the Constitution...
Posted by: blakmira | January 24, 2008 2:08 AM
Chuck Norris and Duncan Hunter, all that is left is Pee Wee Hermann and the road has been cleared.
Posted by: Rene Figueroa | January 24, 2008 2:09 AM
Chuck Norris and Duncan Hunter, all that is left is Pee Wee Hermann and the road has been cleared.
Posted by: Rene Figueroa | January 24, 2008 2:09 AM
Very funny!!!
Hunter ranting about the border fence again. How does that go? Build a fence 19ft tall and the other guy builds a ladder that is 20ft. What a nut.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 24, 2008 9:35 AM
Duncan Hunter is still around?
Posted by: Jeff | January 24, 2008 11:25 AM