Huckabee Takes a Few Light Swings

By: Joy Lin
Topics: Mike Huckabee

(CBS)

From CBS News' Joy Lin:

TAMPA, FLA. -- While visiting a country club this morning, someone handed Mike Huckabee a golf club and asked to see his swing. The candidate, with expectations for a third or fourth place finish in Florida, humored his way through the morning routine of visiting polling stations.

"I wouldn't know which – let's see, do you hold this end, or this end?" Huckabee joked, having never played golf. "I'd be like Mitt Romney eating fried chicken."

He laughed and gasped with supporters at his own remark.

"I played putt-putt one time," Huckabee volunteered. "Does that make me a lifelong golfer?"

"Another little dig," he noted softly, smiling at the the allusion he made to Romney's claim of being a lifelong hunter after having only hunted twice.

On why preferred fishing over golfing, Huckabee said, "When you go home with a golf ball, you can't eat it…Nobody can eat a golf ball."

Someone chimed in, "You can't mount it either."

In a more serious manner, Huckabee told reporters placing within a "close distance" to Rudy Giuliani would indicate "we've had a remarkable finish here." Considering the "boatload" of money and time his opponents have devoted to the state, Huckabee said he'd come out of Florida "still on our feet."

"One of the things that hurt us was some of the networks that said we weren't here," Huckabee said, emphasizing that he'd been in Florida every day this past week. "And they gave people the impression we weren't campaigning in Florida. It's very unfortunate. It's one of those things you can't fix.

When prompted, Huckabee said he was "in many ways…surprised" by Giuliani's fall in Florida polls, calling him a "strong candidate" and "outstanding leader" in the Republican Party.

"But I believe the decision he made to not participate in the early primaries took him out of the conversation and by the time we got to Florida, people just weren't talking about him," he said.

He predicted it will take "six to eight weeks" before it becomes clear who the Republican nominee is.

From here, Huckabee flies to Missouri, one of the Southern states he will be courting between now and Feb. 5th. There, he'll receive the endorsement of over 30 legislators before watching the results of the Florida primary in St. Louis.

10 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by johnsmith45 January 30, 2008 3:46 AM EST: This guy Huckabee is really interesting and down to earth. The establishment Republicans don''t seem to like him.; Reply to this comment


by jocko2008 January 30, 2008 3:23 AM EST: Huckabee is genuine. He''s likeable and he has ideas. Good ideas! But the main reason that I will vote for Huckabee is that he is the only human running in either party. Ron Paul may be genuine, but I''m not sure he''s human. I think he might be an alien. As for the rest they are all politicians, (a most inhumane species).
For you Ron Paul supporters, at least I didn''t lump him in with the politicians. He''s not going to win, why don''t you go ahead and support Huckabee while the getting''s good. Every vote you vote for Ron Paul is a vote against Huckabee, and if you would just listen to him, instead of his opponents accusations, you would find he''s a very good candidate for President of the United States, he''s not so different from Ron Paul, except that he''s got good polish. I wouldn''t even mind if Huckabee chose Ron Paul as a running mate if Ron will give up a few nonsensical ideas and come around to reality. I used to like Ron Paul before he became "tuck and run" and "anti-Isreal". Two policies that won''t hold up for a strong America and a safer world.
Love you Ron Paul voter''s though. Come on over to the viable "right" side.; Reply to this comment


by nrobyar January 29, 2008 7:35 PM EST: Every time Mike Huckabee gets a chance to speak, I am more and more impressed. He has new ideas and he JUST MAKES SENSE!!! Fair Tax Plan, Preventive Health Care Plan, adding lanes to I-95 to booset economy instead of the band-aid of giving a small refund. This uses American labor and materials and would save on fuel currently wasted while people sit in traffic. Huckabee has more leadership experience with his 10 1/2 yrs as Arkansas Governor (where he was voted one of 5 best governors in the US) than any candidate. He was re-elected TWICE in a democratic state (would be very helpful to be able to work with a bi-partisan State and House...) Let''s not let the media tell us who is going to win. My vote goes to Mike Huckabee.....; Reply to this comment


by loveitaly January 29, 2008 5:43 PM EST: Mike Huckabee IS the best candidate that''s come down the pike in a LONG while! He has exceptional character and has had more experience running a government than any of the other candidates! It will be a loss to the people of this nation if they listen/believe the lies and distortions the media continues to "spin" about this outstanding individual! Mike Huckabee caught my attention a long time ago and continues to amaze me at his grace under fire! He has withstood this hailstorm of insults and slights with resolve and class! I am praying that the people in this country will realize this man is the whole package and would make an outstanding president!! WE THE PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! Vote for MIKE!; Reply to this comment


by gsonjagnath January 29, 2008 4:47 PM EST: The Mainstream Media will learn a lesson after super tuesday. They will see who the front runner is. Branding Huck as "Lovable Religious Zealot", is not going to stop people supporting him.
BTW I am not even a Christian.; Reply to this comment


by davide73-2009 January 29, 2008 4:10 PM EST: If Mike Huckabee is not elected President of the United States, America will lose its best chance to survive in the years ahead.; Reply to this comment


by lexy311 January 29, 2008 3:17 PM EST: go huck

Fairtax.org

I sure would love to have my WHOLE paycheck every week. I heard today on Washington Journal that this Fair tax talk sure is shaking up Congress!!! I think we need to write ALL of our representatives!!; Reply to this comment


by marinepatriot January 29, 2008 3:08 PM EST: Governor Huckabee is the best. The media bias that was given to candidates in lower position than Huckabee was has hurt him. When you are #2 Nationwide, #2 in delegates, and #1 in most upcoming states you deserve appropriate media attention.

The dirty candidate still is funding groups to make negative charges against him and inventing mud.

Instead the media as a whole said Huckabee was out of money, that he was pulling out of Florida, that he was not one of the front-runners, and all of that is just sad.

Governor Huckabee isn''t paying millions to the news stations so they say he is not doing good?

We know the truth. Today, the race is more about money than it is about the candidate. Our system is set up to elect the rich and their friends. Thats why our economy is hurting so bad right now.

While most of us are eating every single bite of our chicken, Romney is pealing the skin off and carfefuly eating the best cuts!; Reply to this comment


by brettrix January 29, 2008 3:04 PM EST: Is Ron Paul still running? I haven''t heard anything about him on TV; Reply to this comment


by sumac61 January 29, 2008 2:03 PM EST: "Giuliani Proud Not to Join Last-Minute Attacks"

The strain must be unbearable.....; Reply to this comment