Mike Huckabee: "Less Thank Likely" He Will Challenge President Obama in 2012
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 30, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Former Republican presidential candidate and Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said over the weekend that it is "less than likely" that he will challenge pro-abortion President Barack Obama in 2012. His comments come as recent polls show him with the most support among Republican voters.
Huckabee, who has his own show on the Fox News network, told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday" that a 2012 presidential depends in part on whether Fox News head Roger Ailes keeps his show going.
"The reason I wouldn’t is that this Fox gig I’ve got is really wonderful, " he said.
Huckabee also said he is concerned about the lack of financial and organizational support for another bid for the GOP nomination. He noted that he did not get enough support in 2008 to make his candidacy as effective as he would have liked, although he would likely receive more support this time around as one of the top candidates.
"It’s easy to say, ‘Oh gee, don’t you just want to jump back in it?’ But jumping into the pool, you gotta make sure there is some water in it," he said.
Pressed about the specific chances of him running, Huckabee said, "It’s hard to say."
"A lot of it depends on how the elections turn out next year, and whether Roger Ailes continues to like my show on the weekends, and if all those things factor in, you know, it’s less likely than more likely," Huckabee said. "I would have to see that the Republicans would be willing to unite behind me."
Stressing another point that would determine whether another presidential bid is doable, he said, "The last time out, my biggest challenge was with the establishment Republicans who just never showed their support, and while I think a person can possibly win without them, the Republican party needs to unite if it’s going to win in 2012."
A poll earlier this month found Huckabee leading both former governors Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney for the 2012 Republican nomination to take on the pro-abortion president. Huckabee also led the way in a previous poll sponsored by Rasmussen Reports.
The new Gallup survey asked Republicans to say whether they would like any of several potential presidential candidates.
Some 71 percent of Republicans say they would seriously consider voting for Huckabee while the same 65 percent say they would consider Romney or Palin, both of whom ran as pro-life candidates in 2008.
A previous Rasmussen poll found 29% of Republican voters nationwide say Huckabee is their pick to represent the GOP in the 2012 presidential campaign.
The survey had 24 percent preferring Romney and 18% would cast their vote for pro-life former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
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