Huckabee Accuses Romney of "Voter Suppression"
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. -- Mike Huckabee accused Mitt Romney of dirty politicking at a morning rally today, suggesting that Romney is telling voters that a vote for Huckabee is a vote against Romney.
On Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" last Thursday, Romney said: "I
think most people recognize that a vote for Mike Huckabee is a vote for
John McCain, and if they want John McCain as their nominee, why, that's
exactly what that vote would do."
Today, Huckabee responded: "I know Mr. Romney has been trying to do a little voter suppression by telling people a vote for me is really a vote for John McCain."
"Let me tell you something, a vote for me is exactly what it is - a vote for me. A vote for somebody who hasn't just decided this year where he stands on the second amendment. ... It's a vote for somebody who knows where he stands on the sanctity of life. It's somebody who knows where he stands on the federal marriage amendment. ... It's somebody who knows where he stands on the Reagan legacy and the Bush tax cuts and hasn't changed his opinion."
Speaking to reporters after the event, Huckabee defended his use of the word "voter suppression."
"If you try to discourage people from voting for somebody, what else would you call it?" he asked, not apologizing for making such an accusation.
"Isn't voter suppression where you try to keep people from voting a certain way? By anybody's definition, if the goal of saying certain things or doing certain things is to discourage a person's voters, can anyone tell me otherwise? Isn't that voter suppression -- suppressing the vote, pushing it down, keeping people from feeling comfortable going and making the vote. I think that's exactly what we're seeing."