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Huckabee faults evangelical leaders, looks to 2012 Friday, Apr 11, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Mike Huckabee on Thursday lashed out at religious leaders who did not support his failed run for the presidency, saying their help may have kept him in the race. A month after the former Arkansas governor ended his White House bid, Huckabee told supporters that he may run again in 2012. Huckabee surprised many Americans with Republican primary victories in eight states, despite a low-budget campaign void of what he called "traditional, establishment political money." Because he ran a shoestring campaign, he wasn't perceived as a serious candidate, he said. The Southern Baptist minister said leaders who stood behind pulpits and shared biblical stories of faith were far less likely to put faith in Huckabee's candidacy. "Some people really worshipped at the altar of electability rather than to be faithful and loyal to the principles they were supposed to be committed to," Huckabee said on a telephone conference call sponsored by Charisma magazine. "When it gets to their own political realm, they think more secularly than even the secular people. That was very troubling," he said. Huckabee strongly indicated that more campaigns were ahead during the hour-long conference call with at least 3,000 supporters. The success of his run was a "seminal moment in politics," and his backers should be proud, he said. "Let's dust ourselves off, let's get back on our feet, let's learn from everything we've been through and let's live to fight another day," Huckabee said. At 52, Huckabee is still relatively young. He said he wouldn't rule out another presidential try in 2012, depending on whether anticipated Republican nominee John McCain wins this year and seeks a second term. Huckabee said his evangelical support this year came from rank-and-file Christians who endorsed his social conservative message. Evangelical leaders such as Paul Weyrich reportedly have said privately they regret not endorsing Huckabee early on in the race. Focus on the Family's James Dobson gave his support to Huckabee when only Huckabee and McCain remained in the Republican field. "There were leaders of the conservative movement that, had they stood with me early, I think the outcome would have been different," Huckabee said. Huckabee said he is now focused on helping elect conservative governors and members of Congress who share his political views. His daughter, Sarah, told CNN on Wednesday that Huckabee had signed a contract with a Hollywood talent agency, Creative Artists Agency. Meanwhile, Huckabee said he is working on a book and giving paid speeches across the country. He said he will support McCain in November and plans to campaign on his behalf. Huckabee has been speculated as a possible vice-presidential pick for McCain, though he said there have been no discussions with the presumptive GOP nominee. Huckabee is in the process of revamping his Web site, www.mikehuckabee.com. It currently is not functional, save for a countdown clock set to reach zero at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Huckabee did not disclose any details about the Web site relaunch, except to say it would have "a whole new look and new direction." |
