Arkansas governor charms in speech

LANE FILLER, Staff Writer

Arkansas governor and potential presidential candidate Mike Huckabee made some new friends and few, if any, enemies Monday night.

Speaking at the Spartanburg County Republican Convention, Huckabee found his punch lines received with laughter and his applause lines rewarded with sturdy clapping.

But more than anything, what Huckabee did is establish his credentials as a conservative Republican who can appeal to local voters.

And he's not entirely coy about the idea that he might run. In an interview before his speech, Huckabee admitted the event would be an unusual one to attend if he had no presidential aspirations.

"People don't go to the beach if they absolutely hate the water, the sun and the sand," Huckabee said, referring to his recent visits to early primary states.

Huckabee says he will decide whether to seek the presidency in the next 12 to 13 months.

If the nearly 500 Republicans who gathered at the Summit Pointe Events Center had a shopping list for a presidential candidate, here's what Huckabee offered.

On abortion, the former Baptist preacher is staunchly opposed and will position himself as extremely pro-life in any upcoming election.

On gay marriage, he supported a state constitutional amendment banning it in Arkansas that passed overwhelmingly and encouraged voters to do the same here when referendum time comes.

On the war in Iraq, Huckabee said he fully supports the effort and derided Democrats for saying the establishment of democracy in that country is taking too long when "It took us in America over 100 years to let women vote and 150 years to guarantee African-Americans the vote."

On government, Huckabee said make it smaller. On taxes, Huckabee said he's cut them in Arkansas.

Huckabee did point out ways that he differed from other mainstream Republicans.

"I think what we did with health care in Arkansas, making it available to single mothers and families who couldn't qualify for health care and couldn't afford coverage, is something people might not expect from a Republican governor," Huckabee said.

Huckabee also pointed out that he garnered more than 40 percent of the African-American vote in both his gubernatorial elections, something he said was unusual for a Republican.

Huckabee's attempts at humor were well received also. In particular, his dead-on impersonation of the 16-year-old slacker bobsledder who tried to teach him the sport in Salt Lake City, Utah, had attendees in stitches.

"I came to hear him, what he had to say, and I think he's got some very good ideas," Spartanburg City Councilman Joe Spigner said.

Spigner is adamantly pro-life and demands that of his candidates, as well, but also liked the fact that Huckabee seemed "more credible and less political."

Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, who is running for state treasurer, said he heard Huckabee speak a few months ago and was shocked at how much he had improved his oratorical skills in so short a time.

"He was excellent, very presidential and so funny and folksy," Ryberg said. "I think he's got some good ideas."

"He's one of us," Spartanburg resident Dick Burgess, who works with UBS Financial Services in Greenville, said. "He really seemed motivated to help others."

Huckabee, who will also speak in Charleston and York County in the next two weeks, was realistic about what he's trying to learn.

"If you won't play in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, you're kidding yourself," Huckabee said. "I'm trying to find out if I can."

Lane Filler can be reached at 562-7426, or lane.filler@shj.com.