COLUMBIA--Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Saturday
made the first of what could be many visits to South Carolina, as the Republican
lays the groundwork for his potential 2008 presidential bid.
Speaking at a state party meeting and then later at a fundraiser at the
governor's mansion, Huckabee thanked the GOP faithful for their hard work.
Currently the second longest serving governor in the nation, Huckabee
credited party activists in his home state with each of his victories.
"It wasn't because I was a great candidate. It was because we had some
wonderful people" helping with the campaign, he said at a meeting of the South
Carolina Republican Party executive committee.
Huckabee, 50, then asked them to do the same for Gov. Mark Sanford, who faces
a re-election campaign in 2006.
"We've got an intense reason to try to keep a governor who is Republican in
the governor's mansion ... because governors set the agenda," he said.
Motivating the state's GOP voters is key for someone considering a
presidential campaign because South Carolina is expected to host the first
primary in the South.
Huckabee is the 10th White House hopeful, and the sixth Republican, to visit
the state this year. The lame duck governor, whose term expires in 2007, also
has made several trips to Iowa and New Hampshire, two other states with early
presidential contests.
Arkansas has tried to challenge South Carolina's influential status by moving
its primary forward to Feb. 18.
In 2000, South Carolina's was Feb. 19, and Huckabee said he supports keeping
the state No. 1 in the South.
"Certain traditions have some value," he said. "I think there's a value in
forcing candidates to have to go out answer questions and meet people and be put
on the spot."
Unlike some presidential contenders who visit under other pretenses, Huckabee
openly acknowledges that he is considering a run for the White House.
"I have not made a decision, and I don't have any intention of making one for
a while," Huckabee said. "But I think it'd be disingenuous to say it's never
crossed my mind ... I feel obligated to at least be honest and tell people I'd
at least consider it."
He said it was too early to talk about issues he would highlight during a
potential campaign, but in his speeches, Huckabee talks about making schools
more accountable, limiting government's growth and improving public health.
On the latter issue, Huckabee uses himself as an example. The 5-foot, 11-inch
governor trimmed his weight by 105 pounds after he was diagnosed with diabetes.
Charleston area voters will get plenty more opportunities to hear from
Huckabee in coming days and weeks. Today he is scheduled to address the Arts
Education Partnership conference at the College of Charleston. He plans to
return next week for a National Governor's Association event with Sanford.
Huckabee, who is the chairman of the association, recently announced the
group would hold its annual meeting in Charleston next August.
John Frank covers state politics and the Legislature from Columbia. Contact
him at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.
