Jun 28, 2010

Obama's potential rivals: Huckabee sounds off on Romney, Palin, Daniels

01:51 PM
By Dave Weaver, AP

Turning our attention from the White House to those who might want to move into the White House in early 2013, we take note of Mike Huckabee's comments yesterday on Fox News Sunday.

The former Arkansas governor -- a Fox television talk show host and subject of a recent New Yorker profile -- wouldn't say whether he plans to seek the presidency again, but he did talk about potential Republican primary opponents in 2012:

Mitt Romney -- "The Massachusetts health care bill (that Romney signed as governor) essentially is the blueprint for Obamacare. That's going to be an issue he'll have to confront. There's no doubt in my mind that he's running, and I think he's a formidable candidate. I don't think anybody can dismiss him because he has the organization. He's got the money. He's got sort of the inside track with a lot of the Republican establishment."

Sarah Palin -- "She's got the fire, the energy, and I think there are a lot of Republicans who love her, would support her, and she would be a very strong presence in a presidential primary."

Gov. Mitch Daniels, criticized by Huckabee for proposing a GOP truce on social issues such as abortion -- "I'm a big fan of Mitch Daniels, and I don't want anyone to interpret that statement that I made is that I somehow think that he's lacking in presidential timber. I think he could be one of our most qualified potential candidates. He's a great manager. I just don't want him to back away from issues that will energize and have energized 40%-50% of the Republican base. You can't do that and win the primary and win the general election."

Huckabee had the most praise for a likely non-candidate, former Florida governor (and presidential son and brother) Jeb Bush: "I love Jeb Bush. ... He is, in many ways, one of the best, most talented people we have in the Republican Party. I don't know that Jeb wants to run, but I'll tell you this: If Jeb wanted to run, he's one of those people that rise to the very top because of his sheer brilliance and his ability to communicate it."

Huckabee didn't have many positive things to say about the Republican winner's likely opponent in 2012, President Obama:

Well, they continue to look at the reality of numbers. Every month, our job numbers continue to hover with about a 10% unemployment. We were told that if we did this ridiculous stimulus package and spent nearly a trillion dollars that we were going to keep unemployment below 8%. Well, that didn't happen. And I think it also is indicative of the fact that people have lost confidence that this president is capable of the kind of executive leadership that we need in a crisis. We're seeing what's happening on the Gulf Coast. It's not a pretty sight, and in part because there's no real clear command, control and communication going on.

About his own plans for 2012, Huckabee said, "I have been very adamant that no decision like this would be, should be or could be made until after the 2010 elections. That's where our focus needs to be.

"What happens after that, God only knows, and he hasn't told anyone yet."

You know what they say: Stay tuned.

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