Politico
Huckabee still gives paid speeches
By: Mike Allen
December 26, 2007 03:35 PM EST

Breaking with tradition for presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee is continuing to accept paid speaking engagements in the thick of his insurgent presidential campaign, although churches get a break from his usual fee of up to $25,000.

It's not surprising that Huckabee, as a former Arkansas governor who has wowed audiences in debates, would charge for speeches.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of Huckabee's rivals for the nomination, made a fortune doing just that.

But Giuliani and other major candidates have put their paid speaking careers completely on hold to focus on the flurry of early nominating contests.

Huckabee, though, is still accepting gigs — often on his signature topic of health and fitness.

“Unlike the members of the Senate or Congress who continue to get their paycheck and get a taxpayer-funded salary, and unlike people who are independently wealthy, if I don’t work, I don’t eat,â€