From The Road
February 8, 2008 9:05 AM

Huckabee Gets Dobson's Backing

By
Joy Lin
Topics
Mike Huckabee
(CBS)
From CBS News' Joy Lin:

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson endorsed Mike Huckabee late Thursday night, repeating an earlier statement that he "could not vote for Sen. John McCain."

"The decision by Gov. Mitt Romney to put his campaign 'on hold' changes the political landscape," Dobson said in a written statement.

"His [Huckabee's] unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others."

On McCain, Dobson added, "His record on the institution of the family and other conservative issues makes his candidacy a matter of conscience and concern for me."

Meantime, a senior official in the Huckabee campaign told CBS News that the candidate's private events on Thursday in New York involved meetings with donors, who expressed an uptick in enthusiasm following Mitt Romney's withdrawal from the race. While Huckabee's grassroots support consistently generates dinero, his bigger business donors are more fickle. However, but according to this source, the ones in New York seemed to be enthusiastic about Huckabee following his better-than-expected showing on Super Tuesday.

Huckabee adviser Jim Pinkerton dropped off the campaign trail last night to go to Washington, D.C. to prepare for Huckabee's Saturday speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference. Some analysts have compared the potential impact of the speech to Obama's 2004 debut, one that would set the tone and groundwork for a future presidential run.

Huckabee's ability to survive until the prize state of Texas on March 4 (and this may still just be lip service) depends on a good showing in Kansas on Saturday. He'll spend the day campaigning there today in advance of that state's caucuses.

Add a Comment See all 27 Comments
by russhay78 February 9, 2008 9:50 PM EST
To answer your question hosers 22. The last i heard Mrs. Huckabee is here in Washington. So yes he does have his family backing him up. How the hell can you talk so bad about obesity? Half of this country is overweight. You are way to irrogant to be a delegate. I am military and i think it''s awesome that Mike Huckabee was one of the first politicians to hold a concealed weapons permit. We need these for people like you. Get a hobby. www.mikehuckabee.com
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by hosers22 February 9, 2008 8:07 PM EST
The Hick from Arkansas must be ashamed of his family. Has anyone seen any of them on the campaign trail. Or is Huckablob just hiding the fact that no one in the family can control their appetite.

Everyone questioned why Romneys boys didn''t join the armed services. We all know why the Hickablobs will be deemed 4-F in any draft. Obesity has its privileges, I suppose.

On another note, I can''t wait for when he becomes President and the first family has the Ambassador from Ethiopia over for dinner. That will be an awkward moment.
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by tyahlstrom February 9, 2008 7:36 PM EST
I''ve become really disappointed in Gov. Huckabee. He turned out to be a pretty big poor sport when he started to lose to Gov. Romney. When Mr. Romney attacked him on his profesional credentials he fought back with personal attacks about his bussiness ethics and even stooping to spout out some anti-Mormon half-truths. As well, after Mr. Romney realized that his chances of winning were narrow he graciously bowed out not wanting to jepordize the GOP''s chance of winning. Huckabee still wants to drag it out even when winning looks impossible. Is this just for his personal glory?
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by michaellitz2 February 9, 2008 3:48 PM EST
Mike Huckabee deserved to receive Dr. Dobson''s backing a LONG time ago. I sent Dobson an e-mail telling him so months ago. No other candidate who was ever in the race had as strong a record on conservative social issues as he did. No other candidate had as much executive experience. No other candidate was as likable. No other candidate even NEARLY as ELOQUENT in expressing and defending the precious values that we claim to care so much about. Besides all that he had a GREAT record as Governor in Arkansas. There are lots of good reasons that he was named one of America''s top five Governors. All of us collectively as Values voters have let Mike Huckabee down. Our support for him should have been clear and intense from the beginning. I doubt very much that any of us will ever see a better Values candidate in our lifetimes. That having been said, the race is not over. The field is narrowed and Mike Huckabee is still in the race!!! Let''s boldly and GENEROUSLY support this great champion of our cause from this moment on!
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by marinepatriot February 9, 2008 3:06 PM EST
HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!HUCK-A-BEE!, HUCK-A-BEE!!, HUCK-A-BEE!!!
WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,WE-LIKE-MIKE, WE-LIKE MIKE,
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by hosers22 February 9, 2008 1:48 PM EST
If Mike Huckabee, "the former ordained baptist preacher" bigot is on the republican ticket, this four time republican state delegate will vote for anything the Democrats put up.
I will never vote for a bigot. Never.
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by ih2005 February 9, 2008 6:01 AM EST
Dobson is a JERK. Huckabee ISN''T. His FAIRTAX advocacy is sensible; it is the most important policy issue in this election - yes, even more so than Terrorism because "freeholder" psychology is restored to empower citizens to begin holding their Federal legislators accountable for their spending instead of fighting each other because of the tax code shenanigans politicians and lobbyists use to enrich themselves while "picking winners and losers." http://snipr.com/fairtaxslate
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by greasons February 9, 2008 4:14 AM EST
Sorry CBS. Sorry all media. Sorry all 27 States that have not voted. I''m sorry that the Media has declared the Republican primary over. I''m sorry that they seem to think that your vote won''t count. Mike Huckabee has a great chance of winning over the Wolf in Sheep''s clothing - John McCain. Yes, there is an alternative. The only alternative to beating either Clinton or Obama. And Huckabee is it. Please go to the polls and show them.
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by gjhicks February 9, 2008 4:03 AM EST
What makes a person Presidential? That''s such a strange statement. Is it money? Is it arrogance? Huckabee walks humbly and relates to the average guy on the street...guess that''s not good enough to be President of the USA.
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by ivote-2009 February 9, 2008 3:59 AM EST
People making comments here should give consideration that 27 states, districts, and territories have not yet voted. Do you think maybe they should be given an opportunity to take part in the election process .... or I guess you all have just decided for them.

Romney did not pull out of the race because he wanted to help the Republican party conservatives, he pulled out because he spent over 35 million dollars out of his own pocket and could not pull a single state out of the south on Super Tuesday. It was a reality check.

From CNN Website
"Loser: Mitt Romney
The Super Tuesday primaries across the United States offered prizes to almost all of the candidates -- only one man was left looking short-changed. Mitt Romney, the Mormon tycoon who has invested millions of his own money running for president, was left in the unenviable position of denying he would drop out. Romney did win his home state, Massachusetts, the heavily Mormon state of Utah and a few others. But after personally spending a reported $35 million, he was the clear laggard in the three-man Republican race behind Senator John McCain and former governor Mike Huckabee."

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