The 2016 Presidential Candidates: Mike Huckabee
The next candidate in our series on the 2016 Presidential Candidates is Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee. Huckabee, who turned 60 this past August 24, was the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in the 2008, winning the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses and finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won, behind John McCain (the nominee) and Mitt Romney. In a November 19, 2008, article for the Associated Press, Huckabee considered the possibility of running for president in 2012. He said, "I'm not ruling anything out for the future, but I'm not making any specific plans". A June 2009 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll showed Huckabee one one of the top three potential candidates in the 2012 race, along with Sarah Palin and Romney. An October 2009 poll of Republicans by Rasmussen Reports put Huckabee in the lead with 29%, followed by Romney on 24% and Palin on 18%. On May 14, 2011, Huckabee announced on his Fox News Channel show that he would not be a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. Despite his high national poll numbers and being seen by many as the front runner, Huckabee declined to run, saying, "All the factors say 'go', but my heart says 'no'."
Huckabee hosted his Fox News Channel talk show Huckabee, which began in 2008 after his campaign ended. He left the show in January 2015 in order to explore a potential bid for the presidency. From April 2012 through December 2013, he also hosted a daily radio program, The Mike Huckabee Show, on weekday afternoons for Cumulus Media Networks.
Huckabee is the author of several best-selling books, including one called "Gun God Grits and Gravy". He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, a bass player, and a public speaker. He announced his candidacy for the Republican 2016 nomination in Hope, Arkansas on May 5, 2015 at an event in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Huckabee was able to increase his personal wealth since 2008 from the lecture circuit, from his TV and radio shows. In September of 2014 Huckabee announced that he would make his decision on whether to run for president in early 2015. In January 2015, Huckabee ended his show on FNC to prepare for his possible run in the 2016 presidential election.On May 5, 2015, Huckabee officially declared his candidacy at a rally in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Following are some of the positions taken by Huckabee on some of the leading issues:
Abortion: Huckabee opposes any public funding for abortion, and believes that abortion should be legal only when the life of the mother is at risk. He supports the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Health care: Huckabee opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Race relations: According to a CNN exit poll, Huckabee won 48% of African American votes in his successful 1998 gubernatorial race in Arkansas. Huckabee has said that it is important for Republicans such as himself to reach out to voters from minority groups. In 2015, he said on "Meet the Press" that the confederate flag issue was for South Carolinians to decide, "not an issue for a person running for president". He congratulated Gov. Nikki Haley on her decision supporting removal of the flag from the state capitol. At the 2008 Republican National Convention, Huckabee said in his speech to the delegates: "I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama’s historic achievement to become his party’s nominee — not because of his color, but with indifference to it. Party or politics aside, we celebrate this milestone because it elevates our country."
LGBT: Huckabee has stated that marriage is between one man and one woman, and he opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions. He outlawed gay marriage in Arkansas, but in 2007 and opposes adoptions by same-sex couples.
Teaching of Evolution: Huckabee has said that he does not accept the validity of Darwin's theory of evolution. He said "I think that students also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism."
Military Spending: Huckabee supports an increase in defense spending. He said "Right now, we spend about 3.9 percent of our GDP on defense, compared with about six percent in 1986, under President Ronald Reagan. We need to return to that six percent level."
Immigration: Huckabee released a comprehensive nine-point immigration enforcement and border security plan. His plan includes building a border fence, increased border patrol personnel, and increases in visas for skilled workers who enter the country legally. Huckabee's plan would also require all 11-12 million illegal immigrants to register with the federal government and return to their home countries within 120 days. Failure to do so would carry a 10-year ban from entering the US.
Gun control: Huckabee believes that the concealed carrying of weapons should be allowed.
Huckabee hosted his Fox News Channel talk show Huckabee, which began in 2008 after his campaign ended. He left the show in January 2015 in order to explore a potential bid for the presidency. From April 2012 through December 2013, he also hosted a daily radio program, The Mike Huckabee Show, on weekday afternoons for Cumulus Media Networks.
Huckabee is the author of several best-selling books, including one called "Gun God Grits and Gravy". He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, a bass player, and a public speaker. He announced his candidacy for the Republican 2016 nomination in Hope, Arkansas on May 5, 2015 at an event in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Huckabee was able to increase his personal wealth since 2008 from the lecture circuit, from his TV and radio shows. In September of 2014 Huckabee announced that he would make his decision on whether to run for president in early 2015. In January 2015, Huckabee ended his show on FNC to prepare for his possible run in the 2016 presidential election.On May 5, 2015, Huckabee officially declared his candidacy at a rally in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Following are some of the positions taken by Huckabee on some of the leading issues:
Abortion: Huckabee opposes any public funding for abortion, and believes that abortion should be legal only when the life of the mother is at risk. He supports the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Health care: Huckabee opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Race relations: According to a CNN exit poll, Huckabee won 48% of African American votes in his successful 1998 gubernatorial race in Arkansas. Huckabee has said that it is important for Republicans such as himself to reach out to voters from minority groups. In 2015, he said on "Meet the Press" that the confederate flag issue was for South Carolinians to decide, "not an issue for a person running for president". He congratulated Gov. Nikki Haley on her decision supporting removal of the flag from the state capitol. At the 2008 Republican National Convention, Huckabee said in his speech to the delegates: "I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama’s historic achievement to become his party’s nominee — not because of his color, but with indifference to it. Party or politics aside, we celebrate this milestone because it elevates our country."
LGBT: Huckabee has stated that marriage is between one man and one woman, and he opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions. He outlawed gay marriage in Arkansas, but in 2007 and opposes adoptions by same-sex couples.
Teaching of Evolution: Huckabee has said that he does not accept the validity of Darwin's theory of evolution. He said "I think that students also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism."
Military Spending: Huckabee supports an increase in defense spending. He said "Right now, we spend about 3.9 percent of our GDP on defense, compared with about six percent in 1986, under President Ronald Reagan. We need to return to that six percent level."
Immigration: Huckabee released a comprehensive nine-point immigration enforcement and border security plan. His plan includes building a border fence, increased border patrol personnel, and increases in visas for skilled workers who enter the country legally. Huckabee's plan would also require all 11-12 million illegal immigrants to register with the federal government and return to their home countries within 120 days. Failure to do so would carry a 10-year ban from entering the US.
Gun control: Huckabee believes that the concealed carrying of weapons should be allowed.