Mike Huckabee says conservatives may have to get behind Romney

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee

/ Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa presidential caucus with the backing of social conservatives in 2008, is hinting that it may be time for conservative Republicans to get behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's candidacy.

"Mitt Romney may not be their first choice, but Mitt Romney every day of the week and twice on Sunday is going to be a much more effective president for issues that they care about than Barack Obama," Huckabee said Sunday in an interview with WABC. "I think sometimes there is this anxiety within the Republican Party of who is the perfect candidate. The answer is there isn't one."

He continued to say that conservatives have to decide "who can survive" the campaign process. "And whoever that is, if it's Mitt Romney, then I think Republicans and conservatives and the Tea Party need to get behind him and say, 'You may not be our first choice, but between you and Obama, I'll vote 40 times to get you elected.'"

Romney placed a distant second behind Huckabee in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, even though Romney invested significant time and resources into the state, which holds the nation's first nominating contest. But a poll of likely Iowa caucusgoers released last week that so far, the Iowa nomination is up for grabs.

Huckabee, still popular among Iowa conservatives, could help Romney secure a victory there January 3. The former Arkansas governor is premiering a documentary about the moral issues surrounding abortion in Iowa on December 14 and has invited the eight GOP presidential candidates there to discuss the issue, the Des Moines Register reports.

While some conservatives are wary of the evolution of Romney's position on abortion rights, Huckabee defended Romney on Fox News earlier this month.

"Mitt Romney himself will point out that Ronald Reagan was pro-choice at one point in his life and then became pro-life, as did George H.W. Bush," he said. "So it's not uncommon for people to change a position."

Romney has held his cards closely when it comes to his strategy in Iowa, but he told reporters over the weekend, "We intend to play in Iowa. I want to do very well there."

This week, he quietly opened a campaign office in Des Moines, and he has plans to return to the state on Wednesday.

[tsigili]

I don't see Romney winning the primary. He might do better against Obama, but I don't think he will get that option.

[schveiguy]

The main-stream media continues to push everyone towards Romney as the "I know he's not the best, but he's all we got." If Romney wins the nomination, *THEN* we the Tea-partiers will get behind him. Until then, let's maybe have a vote to see who's the nominee, OK?

I'm sick of this nonsense of Romney being the only one who can win. Has anyone looked at how horribly Obama and his party has done the last 3 years? I think *anyone* could beat Obama right now, the conservatives are mobilized, like they haven't been in years. They will *all* go out to vote. And us right-leaning independents would rather vote for a pile of jello than Obama. So to recap:

1. we're all going to vote
2. None of us are voting for Obama.

Doesn't that leave whoever the republican nominee is as the clear winner? As the 2004 ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox was just a contest to see who was going on to trounce the NL team, the Republican primary is the real election. Vote for whoever you want to.

Except John "Closet Liberal" Huntsman.

[MJ_S]

1. I'm not voting for Romney-period.

Either get a Conservative or Conservative-leaning Republican in there or lets collapse the system, and start off fresh.

I'm not waiting 4-8 years under a Romney administration (which won't happen because obama will beat him) for "maybe/perhaps" to get government reform...no thanks.

NO RINO 2012

[stn_sage]

OMG! I bet this hurts Huckabee to have to say this!
But, I don't think he's authorized to speak for members
of the Tea Party!
And, it's 'tossing dice' to just 'line up' behind Romney,
when you've got Ron Paul available, who can cut across
party lines, and probably beat BO much easier than MR can!
Paul's a Republican, and, at least for now, says he will
trim spending and downsize government!
I'd think Reps would want to go with their strongest hitter,
and not their second or third!?

[boorah5]

Recently Gov. Perry spun a President Obama comment to state that our President thinks Americans are lazy. Well, anyone with half a brain knows Perry lied. But, in the spirit of republican tactics, I would now like to state to the world that on Sunday Mike Huckabee declared that he advocates and would commit voter FRAUD to defeat Obama.

[JohnWallis42]

Oh noes, the horror, the horror. Dear old Fatty Schmuckabee is right, the only prayer the GOP has is Romney, the rest of the clowns in the car are unelectable. Romney and Bachmann 2012 will be the ticket and they will get their ***** handed to them. Well done Tea Party, not only will you have forced the US economy into the toilet again with your budget nonsense but you have successfully neutered the Republican party and made it impossible for them to gain the presidency for at least another four. Nice one, cheers, thanks so much, signed the Left.

[DebbieCorona]

1) Romney is now backed by a slew of G.W.Bush administration people most notably Cheney and Rove. The GOP will fall in line and march lockstep behind Romney.
2) GOP is pretty good these days about falling in line and marching in lockstep. They've all signed the Norquist pledge that upsurps their oath to the US Constitution.

For the GOP it is not about people but party.

[2happy2ride]

And the dems are for the people? Read your history, you have no clue.