Rep. Duncan Hunter, who recently dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination, endorsed former Gov. Mike Huckabee earlier today:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- California Rep. Duncan Hunter, a former presidential candidate, announced Wednesday he is endorsing Mike Huckabee's White House bid."I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail," [Hunter] said in a statement. "Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China's emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America's industrial base.
"Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee's candidacy that compels my endorsement," he added. "Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well."
This should be a very good thing for Mike Huckabee, even though Duncan's supporters were few in number, this is confirmation that Huckabee is indeed a conservative. I don't know anyone in their right mind who wouldn't call Hunter anything but a conservative, and I don't think he's a guy to just throw his support any ol' way. Hunter's strongpoint during his own campaign was immigration, and believes Huckabee is strong on that issue, as well.
Thank you so much, Rep. Hunter!
-Cydney
Cross-posted on The Celebrity.
I cannot agree with that conclusion. I think Hunter threw his support to Huckabee because of agreement on a limited number of positions on which they agree, but it doesn't make him an across-the-board conservative. By the same token, we could say that the endorsement of Brownback -- also a clear conservative -- confirms that McCain is a conservative. Even though I have been making the case that McCain is a conservative, I've not used that argument. :-)
And remember, Tancredo, also a clear conservative, endorsed Romney! And Pat Robertson endorsed Giuliani! Granted, however, none of them -- except maybe Brownback, because of his greater name recognition prior to this campaign -- probably has the respect from conservatives that Hunter has.
I think it IS confirmation that in Duncan Hunter's insightful and knowledgable mind, that Huckabee is committed to the things he mentioned: strengthening national defense, building a border fence, and holding back China.
I am, however, not convinced that Huckabee has strong ability in the former or latter. And further, I think most strong anti-illegal-immigrant folks will still take issue with many of Huckabee's positions on immigration, though Hunter's endorsement might help a little bit. Huckabee lost a lot of points, I think, by defending the illegal activity of illegal immigrants ... points that can't be
But none of this will help at all with people who think Huckabee is a big-government Republican.
It should help some, and it is a valuable endorsement. I just don't think it will make a huge difference for Huckabee.
Posted by: pudge on January 24, 2008 09:20 AMI totally understand your point that just because Hunter endorsed him doesn't mean he's a conservative through-and-through...but I do think that it is a help and a little push in the right direction.
Haha...I think McCain is a conservative--he understands the concept of living with your means, that's why he didn't vote for the Bush tax cuts. I respect him for that. Don't get me wrong, I like McCain, but I like Huckabee more. :)
Posted by: Cydney on January 25, 2008 03:44 PM