View source for Biography:Mike Huckabee

{{Short description|Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Mike Huckabee
| image               = Mike Huckabee by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg
| caption             = Huckabee in 2015
| order               = 44th
| office = Governor of Arkansas
| lieutenant          = Winthrop Paul Rockefeller (1996–2006)<br> ''Vacant'' (2006–2007)
| term_start          = July 15, 1996
| term_end            = January 9, 2007
| predecessor         = Jim Guy Tucker
| successor           = Mike Beebe
| office1             = Chair of the National Governors Association
| term_start1         = July 18, 2005
| term_end1           = August 7, 2006
| predecessor1        = Mark Warner
| successor1          = Janet Napolitano
| office2             = 16th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
| governor2           = Jim Guy Tucker
| term_start2         = November 20, 1993
| term_end2           = July 15, 1996
| predecessor2        = Jim Guy Tucker (1992)
| successor2          = Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
| birth_name          = Michael Dale Huckabee
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1955|8|24}}
| birth_place         = Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = Republican
| spouse              = {{marriage|Janet McCain|1974}}
| children            = 3, including Sarah
| occupation          = {{hlist|Political commentator|politician|minister|guitarist}}
| education           = [[Organization:Ouachita Baptist University|Ouachita Baptist University]] (BA)<br>Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (attended)
| website             = {{url|mikehuckabee.com|Official website}}
| signature           = Mike Huckabee Signature.svg
}}
'''Michael Dale Huckabee''' ({{IPAc-en|'|h|ʌ|k|ə|b|i}}, born August 24, 1955) is an American political commentator, Baptist minister, and former politician who served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/25/jindal.reaction/index.html |title=Jindal earns bad reviews in national debut |last=Mooney |first=Alexander |date=February 26, 2009 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 9, 2015}}<br />{{cite news |publisher=Arkansas News Bureau |url=http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/11/03/News/330343.html |title=Huckabee remains the highest-rated political figure in the state |date=November 3, 2005 |access-date=October 26, 2007 |last=Sadler |first=Aaron |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071014223541/http://arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/11/03/News/330343.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 14, 2007}}</ref> He was a candidate for the Republican Party presidential nomination in both 2008 and 2016.

He is the host of the talk show ''Huckabee'', which ran on the Fox News Channel from 2008 to 2015, and has run on TBN since October 2017. He paused the show in January 2015 in order to explore a potential bid for the presidency. From April 2012 through December 2013, he hosted a daily radio program, ''The Mike Huckabee Show'', on weekday afternoons for Cumulus Media Networks.<ref>Brian Stelter, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/business/media/mike-huckabee-to-begin-new-radio-show.html New Huckabee Radio Show Could Vie With Limbaugh], ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'', February 8, 2012</ref> Huckabee is the author of several best-selling books, co-founder of the Kids Guide to Fighting Socialism,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kids Guide to Fighting Socialism - Free Gift From Mike Huckabee |url=https://thekidsguide.com/kids-fight-socialism-x42/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The Kids Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> an ordained Southern Baptist [[Religion:Minister (Christianity)|Pastor]] noted for his evangelical views,<ref>{{cite web |last=Miller|first=Joe|title=Ask FactCheck: Huckabee an Evangelical?|date=February 4, 2008|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/huckabee-an-evangelical/|publisher=FactCheck.org|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> a musician, and a public speaker. He was also a political commentator on ''The Huckabee Report.''<ref>{{cite news |date=August 14, 2014 |title=Mike Huckabee Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/06/us/mike-huckabee-fast-facts/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

In the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, Huckabee won the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses and finished second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won, behind John McCain and Mitt Romney. Huckabee ran again for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election, but withdrew early in the primary following a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucus.

Huckabee is the father of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a former White House press secretary and the current governor of Arkansas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schonfeld |first1=Zach |title=Sarah Sanders wins Arkansas governor's mansion |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3721608-sarah-sanders-wins-arkansas-governors-mansion/ |access-date=November 8, 2022 |work=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |date=November 8, 2022}}</ref>

==Early life==
Huckabee was born on August 24, 1955, in Hope, Arkansas,<ref name = "Barone 136–137">{{cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics|url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00|url-access=registration|author1=Michael Barone|author2=Grant Ujifusa|year=1999|work=National Journal|location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=0-8129-3194-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00/page/136 136–7]}}</ref> the son of Dorsey Wiles Huckabee (1923–1996) and his wife Mae (Elder) Huckabee (1925–1999), conservative Southern Democrats. Huckabee is of English, German, and Scots-Irish ancestry, with roots in America dating to the Colonial Era.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/01/05/Mike-Huckabee-13-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |title=Mike Huckabee: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Him |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=[[Finance:The Fiscal Times|The Fiscal Times]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 14, 2014 |last=Reitwiesner |first=Williams A. |title=The Ancestors of Mike Huckabee |url=http://www.wargs.com/political/huckabee.html |website=William Addams Reitwiesner Genealogical Services |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> He has cited his working-class upbringing as the reason for his political views;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/blog/2008/01/in_close_contest_huckabee_hits.html|title=Online NewsHour: Reporters' Blog &#124; In Close Contest, Huckabee Hits States Rights, Populist Themes &#124; January 19, 2008|publisher=PBS|date=January 19, 2008|access-date=June 13, 2010|archive-date=October 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029061146/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/blog/2008/01/in_close_contest_huckabee_hits.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> his father worked as a fireman and mechanic, and his mother worked as a clerk at a gas company.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WN/WhoIs/story?id=3746628&page=1|title=Get to Know Mike Huckabee;Former Arkansas Governor Hopes to Go From the Pulpit to the Oval Office|date=October 18, 2007|access-date=November 17, 2007|last=Wiener|first=Jared}}</ref>

His first job, when he was 14, was at a radio station, where he read the news and weather.<ref>{{cite book |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |title=Character Is The Issue |url=https://archive.org/details/characterisissue0000huck |url-access=registration |publisher=Broadman & Holman Publishers |year=1997 |location=Nashville |page=[https://archive.org/details/characterisissue0000huck/page/72 72]|isbn=9780805463675 }}</ref> He was elected governor of Arkansas by his chapter of the American Legion-sponsored Boys State program in 1972.<ref name="Barone 136–137"/> He was student council vice president at Hope High School during the 1971–1972 school year. He was student council president at Hope High School during the 1972–1973 school year.<ref name="scottparks">{{cite news |last=Parks |first=Scott |date=February 9, 1997 |title=Huckabee's not preaching to choir; Arkansas governor leads largely Democratic state |work=The Dallas Morning News}}</ref> He has one sister, Pat Harris, a middle school teacher.<ref name="brianlamb">{{cite news |publisher={{wipe|C-SPAN}} |url= http://www.c-span.org/video/?185230-1/qa-mike-huckabee |title=Q&A by Brian Lamb interview with Mike Huckabee |date=February 13, 2005 |access-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> He entered the ministry in 1972 at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church in Hope.

Huckabee married Janet McCain on May 25, 1974.<ref name="brianlamb" /><ref name="huckybio">{{cite web |url=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/about-mike-huckabee |title=Biography |work=Team Huckabee |publisher=Huckabee For President Inc. |access-date=December 17, 2007}}</ref> He graduated from [[Organization:Ouachita Baptist University|Ouachita Baptist University]] on May 8, 1978,<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Obu Catalogs|title=Ouachita Baptist University General Catalog 1977–1978" (1977)|date=January 1977|url=http://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/catalogs/24}}</ref> completing his bachelor's degree in religion before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He dropped out of the seminary after one year in order to take a job in Christian broadcasting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chafets|first=Zev|date=December 12, 2007|title=The Huckabee Factor|newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}}|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/magazine/16huckabee.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin}}</ref><ref name="mikebio">{{cite web |url=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=About.Home|title=Official biography|access-date=October 26, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Appelbaum|first=Lauren|date=December 14, 2007|title=Huck on "Theology" Degree|publisher=NBC News |url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/12/14/4432349-huck-on-theology-degree}}</ref>

==Pastoral career==
[[File:Mike Huckabee at Thomas Road Baptist Church.jpg|thumb|right|Huckabee playing bass guitar at Thomas Road Baptist Church in 2008]]
At age 21, Huckabee was a staffer for televangelist James Robison.<ref name="scottparks"/> Robison commented, "His convictions shape his character and his character will shape his policies. His whole life has been shaped by moral absolutes."<ref name="scottparks"/> Prior to his political career, he served as pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, from 1980 to 1986, and the Beech Street First Baptist Church in Texarkana, from 1986 to 1992.

Huckabee started 24-hour television stations in both Pine Bluff and Texarkana, where he produced documentaries and hosted a program called ''Positive Alternatives''.<ref name = "Barone 136–137"/> He encouraged the all-white Immanuel Baptist Church to accept black members in the mid-1980s.<ref name="scottparks"/><ref name="Isikoff"/> Years later, he wrote about the insights he gained as a minister:

{{blockquote|My experience dealing every day with real people who were genuinely affected by policies created by government gave me a deep understanding of the fragility of the human spirit and vulnerability of so many families who struggled from week to week. I was in the ICU at 2 a.m. with families faced with the decision to disconnect a respirator on their loved one; I counseled fifteen-year-old pregnant girls who were afraid to tell their parents about their condition; I spent hours hearing the grief of women who had been physically and emotionally clobbered by an abusive husband; I saw the anguish in the faces of an elderly couple when their declining health forced them to sell their home, give up their independence, and move into a long-term-care facility; I listened to countless young couples pour out their souls as they struggled to get their marriages into survival mode when confronted with overextended debt ...<ref>Huckabee, ''From Hope to Higher Ground'', p. 7</ref>}}

In 1989, Huckabee ran against Ronnie Floyd of Springdale for the presidency of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Huckabee won and served as president from 1989 to 1991.<ref>Robert Marus for the Associated Baptist Press. January 21, 2008 [https://www.baptiststandard.com/resources/archives/48-2008-archives/7450-huckabees-role-in-sbc-conflict-presaged-political-balancing-act Huckabee's role in SBC conflict presaged political balancing act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824024727/https://www.baptiststandard.com/resources/archives/48-2008-archives/7450-huckabees-role-in-sbc-conflict-presaged-political-balancing-act |date=August 24, 2016 }}</ref>

Huckabee has received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Humane Letters, received from [[Organization:John Brown University|John Brown University]] in 1991, and a Doctor of Laws from [[Organization:Ouachita Baptist University|Ouachita Baptist University]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|author=Talkers Magazine|title=defender of the month 1998|url=http://www.ccrkba.org/defender1998.htm#May|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512082835/http://www.ccrkba.org/defender1998.htm#May|archive-date=May 12, 2008|access-date=October 16, 2008|publisher=CCRKBA}}<br />{{cite news|title=Mike Huckabee|newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}}|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/mike_huckabee|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

==Political career==

===Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, campaign 1992===

In Huckabee's first political race in 1992, he lost to incumbent Democratic senator Dale Bumpers, receiving 40 percent of the vote in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/05/us/the-1992-elections-state-by-state-south.html|title=The 1992 Elections: State by State; South|date=November 5, 1992|newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} | first1=James | last1=Bennet | first2=John H. Jr. | last2=Cushman | first3=James | last3=Dao | first4=Jason | last4=DeParle | first5=Clifford | last5=Krauss | first6=Stephen | last6=Labaton | first7=Neil A. | last7=Lewis | first8=David | last8=Margolick | first9=Maria | last9=Newman | first10=Martin | last10=Tolchin | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> In the same election, Arkansas governor Bill Clinton was elected president, making lieutenant governor Jim Guy Tucker the new governor when Clinton resigned the governorship. In 1993, Republican state chairman Asa Hutchinson urged Huckabee to run in the special election for lieutenant governor held on July 27. Realizing his loss came among key conservative Democrats, Huckabee ran a decidedly conservative campaign. In the subsequent general election, he defeated Nate Coulter, who had been Bumpers's campaign manager the previous year,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2519/is_n5_v14/ai_14558214/pg_2 |title=GOP wins one in Arkansas – Republican Party; Mike Huckabee &#124; Campaigns & Elections &#124; Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |publisher=FindArticles |access-date=October 16, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080107151043/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2519/is_n5_v14/ai_14558214/pg_2 |archive-date = January 7, 2008}}</ref> 51–49 percent.<ref name = "Barone 136–137"/> Huckabee became the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as Arkansas lieutenant governor, the first having been Maurice Britt from 1967 to 1971.

In his autobiography ''From Hope to Higher Ground'', Huckabee recalled the chilly reception that he received from the Arkansas Democratic establishment on his election as lieutenant governor: "The doors to my office were spitefully nailed shut from the inside, office furniture and equipment were removed, and the budget spent down to almost nothing prior to our arriving. After fifty-nine days of public outcry, the doors were finally opened for me to occupy the actual office I had been elected to hold two months earlier."<ref>Huckabee, ''From Hope to Higher Ground'', pp. 6–7</ref>

Dick Morris, who had previously worked for Bill Clinton, advised Huckabee on his races in 1993, 1994, and 1998.<ref name = "RexNelson">{{cite news |last=Nelson|first=Rex|date=July 2, 1995|title=Clinton's Hired Gun Gives Huckabee Hand: Lieutenant Governor Shooting for Senate|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette}}</ref> Huckabee commented that Morris was a "personal friend".<ref name = "RexNelson"/> A newspaper article reported on Huckabee's 1993 win: "Morris said the mistake Republicans always make is that they are too much of a country club set. What we wanted to do was run a progressive campaign that would appeal to all Arkansans.'"<ref name = "RexNelson"/>

Morris elaborated, "So we opened the campaign with ads that characterized Mike as more of a moderate whose values were the same as those of other Arkansans."<ref name = "RexNelson"/> Consequently, he abandoned his earlier support for the Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC) when in April 1994 following an adverse media campaign against the CofCC, Huckabee withdrew from a speaking engagement before their national convention. He repeated the accusations made by various media and civil rights organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center recalling his past association with the CofCC saying, "I will not participate in any program that has racist overtones. I've spent a lifetime fighting [against] racism and anti-Semitism."<ref>{{cite news |last=Duhart |first=Bill |title=Huckabee Won't Appear With Racist |newspaper=Philadelphia Tribune |date=April 12, 1994 |url=http://www.ferris.edu/isar/institut/CCC/philly.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012016/http://www.ferris.edu/isar/institut/CCC/philly.htm |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref>

In 1994, Huckabee was re-elected to a full term as lieutenant governor, beating Democratic candidate Charlie Cole Chaffin with nearly 59 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3929|title=1994 AR Lt. Governor Election Results|publisher=OurCampaigns.com<!--note: |date=??? (says "Last Modified: Site Builder July 13, 2005 11:50 pm", but it's for a poll that happened in 1994!)-->}}</ref> While lieutenant governor, Huckabee accepted $71,500 in speaking fees and traveling expenses from a nonprofit group, Action America. R. J. Reynolds was the group's largest contributor.<ref name="Isikoff">{{cite news |last=Bailey |first=Holly |author2=Michael Isikoff |title=A Pastor's True Calling: Huckabee's success is due, in part, to right-time, right-place luck. But he says it comes from above. |work=Newsweek |date=December 8, 2007 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/74469/output/print |access-date=December 14, 2007 }}</ref>

In October 1995, David Pryor announced that he was retiring from the United States Senate. Huckabee then announced he was running for the open seat and moved ahead in the polls,<ref name = "Barone 136–137"/> but ultimately dropped out of the race to lead the state after incumbent governor Jim Guy Tucker resigned following his fraud and conspiracy convictions.<ref name="KevinSack" />

During his campaign, Huckabee opposed in December then-governor Tucker's plan for a constitutional convention.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neal |first=Rachel |author2=Caldwell, Elizabeth |title=Observers Say Arkansans: Arkansas voters didn't like the idea of allowing 26 appointed legislators to serve as delegates to a proposed constitutional convention |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=December 14, 1995 }}</ref> The plan was defeated by voters, 80–20 percent, in a special election. In January 1996, Huckabee campaigned in televised ads paid for by the Republican National Committee and the Arkansas Republican Party against a highway referendum. Tucker supported the referendum, which included tax increases and a bond program, to improve {{convert|1300|mi|km}} of highway.<ref name="Oneal">{{cite news |last=O'Neal |first=Rachel |title=Road Vote |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=January 11, 1996 }}</ref> On the referendum, the bond question, which included a sales tax increase and a gas tax increase, lost 87–13 percent. A second question, a five-cent increase on [[Chemistry:Diesel fuel|diesel]] tax, lost 86–14 percent.<ref name="Oneal" /><ref name="CharacterBook">{{cite book |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |title=Character Is The Issue |url=https://archive.org/details/characterisissue0000huck |url-access=registration |publisher=Broadman & Holman Publishers |year=1997 |location=Nashville |pages=[https://archive.org/details/characterisissue0000huck/page/65 65–67]|isbn=9780805463675 }}</ref> Huckabee also opposed Tucker's plan for school consolidation.<ref name="CharacterBook" />

===Governor of Arkansas, 1996–2007===
[[File:Opening Ceremonies of the Big Dam Bridge with Gov. Mike Huckabee.jpg|thumb|Governor Huckabee at Opening Ceremonies of the Big Dam Bridge]]
In May 1996, Tucker was convicted "on one count of arranging nearly $3 million in fraudulent loans" as part of the Whitewater controversy. The Arkansas Constitution, like nearly all state constitutions in the United States, does not allow convicted felons to hold office. Tucker thus promised to resign by July 15.<ref name = "Barone 136–137"/> Huckabee then announced he would quit the Senate race and instead fill the unexpired term of Tucker.<ref name="KevinSack">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EEDB1E39F932A05756C0A960958260 |title=Arkansan Quits Senate Race to Lead State |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |last=Sack |first=Kevin |date=May 31, 1996}}</ref> However, Tucker, insisting he had a strong case for appeal,<ref name="Barone 44">{{cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics |last=Barone |first=Michael |author2=Grant Ujifusa |year=1999 |work=National Journal |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=0-8129-3194-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00/page/44 44] |url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00/page/44 }}</ref> rescinded his resignation as Huckabee was preparing to be sworn in on July 15. Within a few hours, Tucker reinstated his resignation after Huckabee and the legislature threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against Tucker.<ref name="scottparks"/> Huckabee was then duly sworn in as governor.

In November 1998, Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term by defeating retired colonel Gene McVay in the primary and Jonesboro attorney and Democratic candidate Bill Bristow in the general election, becoming the state's third elected Republican governor since Reconstruction.
According to a CNN exit poll, Huckabee received 48% of the African American vote in his 1998 election;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/01/could_mike_huckabee_be_america_1.asp |title=Could Mike Huckabee be America's Second Black President? |last=Faughnahan |first=Brian |date=January 15, 2008 |publisher=The Weekly Standard |access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> but some experts have questioned whether those numbers are a representative sample on how he did on the whole in the election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ahead of debate, Huckabee's claim of black support questioned|url=http://archives.arkansasnews.com/2007/09/26/ahead-of-debate-huckabees-claim-of-black-support-questioned/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194725/http://archives.arkansasnews.com/2007/09/26/ahead-of-debate-huckabees-claim-of-black-support-questioned/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|newspaper=Arkansas News|date=September 26, 2007}}</ref>

In 2001, Huckabee was named "Friend of a Taxpayer" by Americans for Tax Reform for his cut in statewide spending.<ref name="Jennrubin">{{Cite web|author=Jennifer Rubin|date=February 12, 2007|title=Taxing Claims: Is Mike Huckabee an "authentic conservative"?|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219944/taxing-claims/jennifer-rubin|access-date=January 9, 2015|publisher=National Review}}</ref>

In November 2002, Huckabee was reelected to his 2nd 4-year term by defeating State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher, garnering 53 percent of the vote. His reelection came despite the defeat in the general election of fellow Republican U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson.

Huckabee received widespread praise for his state's rapid response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, ''{{wipe|Time (magazine)}}'' named him one of the five best governors in the U.S., writing "Huckabee has approached his state's troubles with energy and innovation" and referred to him as "a mature, consensus-building conservative who earns praise from fellow Evangelicals and, occasionally, liberal Democrats."<ref name="time">{{Cite magazine |title=America's 5 Best Governors |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124053404/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 24, 2005 |magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |date=November 13, 2005}}</ref> ''Governing'' magazine likewise honored Huckabee as one of its 2005 Public Officials of the Year.<ref name="governing">{{cite web|last=Greenblatt|first=Alan|title=Public Officials of the Year: Mike Huckabee|url=http://www.governing.com/poy/Mike-Huckabee.html|access-date=January 8, 2015|work=Governing|date=April 15, 2010}}</ref> Additionally, he was among those legislators given the APHA Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award by the [[Organization:American Public Health Association|American Public Health Association]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Previous APHA Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award Winners|url=http://www.apha.org/about-apha/apha-awards/apha-distinguished-public-health-legislator-of-the-year-award/previous-apha-distinguished-legislator-of-the-year-award-winners|access-date=January 10, 2015|website=[[Organization:American Public Health Association|American Public Health Association]]}}</ref> for that same year.

In 2006, he was presented with AARP's Impact Award for his health initiatives.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OASIS awards and achievements|url=http://www.oasisnet.org/AboutUs/History/Awards.aspx|access-date=January 10, 2015|publisher=OasisNet|archive-date=January 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110192238/http://www.oasisnet.org/AboutUs/History/Awards.aspx|url-status=dead}}<br />{{Cite web|date=August 20, 2009|title=Inspire Awards 2006 Honorees: Governor Mike Huckabee, Health Crusader|url=http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2005/impact_awards_huck.html|access-date=January 10, 2015|publisher=AARP}}</ref>

In December 2008, Huckabee became an honorary member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He said that did not have time to join a fraternity in college because he had to "cram four years into a little more than two". The fraternity's CEO said they were "very impressed with his character and the initiatives he headed" as governor.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 13, 2006|title=Arkansas Gov. Huckabee Joins a Fraternity|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/arkansas-gov-huckabee-joins-a-fraternity|access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>

By the end of his term, Huckabee held the 3rd-longest tenure of any Arkansas governor. Only Democrats Orval Faubus, who served 6 consecutive 2-year terms (1955–1967), and Bill Clinton, who served 11 years, 11 months (1979–1981; 1983–1992), had longer tenures.

During his tenure as governor, Huckabee supported tax reforms including tax cuts and increases, that netted $505 million for the state.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/huckabee-in-tax-war-as-ex-governor-launches-white-house-bid-2015-05-05 |title= Huckabee in tax war as ex-governor launches White House bid |last1=Schroeder |first1=Robert |date=May 5, 2015 |publisher=MarketWatch |access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> According to columnist Margaret Carlson, that money was used to improve roads, health care and schools in the state.<ref>Carlson, Margaret. [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-07/bush-and-huckabee-get-ready-for-war "Bush and Huckabee Get Ready for War"], Bloomberg View (January 7, 2015): "He raised taxes to improve schools, roads and health care in Arkansas."</ref>

====Clemencies====

As governor, Huckabee commuted and accepted recommendations for pardon for twice as many sentences as his 3 predecessors combined; in total: 1,033 prisoners.<ref name=" DeMillo ">{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-10-huckabee-pardons_N.htm|title= Huckabee Pardons Under Scrutiny |last= DeMillo| first=Andrew |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |agency= Associated Press|date=December 10, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2009}}</ref> Twelve had previously been convicted of murder.<ref name=" Tapper ">{{cite news | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3983797&page=1|title= Huckabee's Plethora of Pardons, Former Arkansas Governor Faces Scrutiny for Having a Forgiving Spirit|last= Tapper|first= Jake |publisher=ABC News |date=December 11, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2009}}</ref> Though Huckabee pardoned more than his predecessors, the state prison size and number of people executed were greater as well,<ref>Associated Press (December 10, 2007). [http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/12/10/mike-huckabee-clemency-record-is-under-scrutiny Mike Huckabee's Clemency Record Is Under Scrutiny.] Fox News. Retrieved January 6, 2015.</ref> Huckabee denied 92% of all clemency requests during his 10.5 years as governor.<ref name=responsibility>(2009, December 1). [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/01/washington.police.huckabee/index.html?iref=24hours Huckabee: 'I Take Full Responsibility' For Shooting Suspect's Clemency.] CNN. Retrieved January 6, 2015.</ref> Most pardons and commutations were not for prisoners but for those whose sentences had ended and who were seeking work.<ref>Adair, B. (December 28, 2007). [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2007/dec/28/mitt-romney/yes-huckabee-pardoned-many/ Yes, Huckabee Pardoned Many.] PolitiFact. Retrieved January 6, 2015.<br />Tapper, J. (December 11, 2007). [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3983797&page=1&singlePage=true Huckabee's Plethora of Pardons.] ABC News. Retrieved January 6, 2015.</ref> Huckabee's pardons and commutations became an issue during the 2008 Republican Primary, with most of the controversy focusing on Wayne Dumond.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-10-huckabee-pardons_N.htm|title= Huckabee Pardons Under Scrutiny |last= DeMillo| first=Andrew |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |agency= Associated Press|date=December 10, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2009}}<br />{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/huckabee-freed-criminals/story?id=9207095 |title=Huckabee Helped Set Rapist Free Who Later Killed Missouri Woman |last=Schone |first=Mark |date=November 30, 2009 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>

Huckabee's handling of clemency petitions received national attention in November 2009 with the case of Maurice Clemmons, who had committed burglary without a weapon at 16. The Prison Transfer Board unanimously requested a sentence commutation for Clemmons as did the trial judge.<ref name=responsibility/> Clemmons's 60-year sentence was commuted by Huckabee to 47 years, making him eligible for parole if approved by the parole board. After parole in 2000, Clemmons was arrested for multiple offenses including child molestation and aggravated assault but was released after prosecutors declined to file charges. After Clemmons murdered four police officers in Lakewood, Washington, a two-day manhunt ensued, and Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle Police Department officer after refusing police orders to stop charging the officer.<ref name="SeaTimes01Dec">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010393433_webarrest01m.html |title=Lakewood police shooting suspect killed by Seattle police officer in South Seattle early this morning |last=Sullivan |first=Jennifer |author2=Mark Rahner |author3=Jack Broom |date=December 1, 2009 |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204124651/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010393433_webarrest01m.html |archive-date=December 4, 2009 }}</ref> In his book about the shooting, ''The Other Side of Mercy'', Jonathan Martin of ''The Seattle Times'' wrote that Huckabee apparently failed to review Clemmons's prison file, which was "thick with acts of violence and absent indications of rehabilitation".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/12/18/mike-huckabees-maurice-clemmons-problem/|title=Mike Huckabee's Maurice Clemmons problem|last=Martin|first=Jonathan|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=January 4, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402154503/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/12/18/mike-huckabees-maurice-clemmons-problem/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Huckabee defended his actions, stating that the recommendation to reduce the sentence was unanimous and supported by the trial judge, that the decision to parole him was made by the parole board, not him, and that Clemmons had been re-arrested and the decision not to file charges then had nothing to do with him.<ref>Huckabee, M. (December 1, 2009). [http://humanevents.com/2009/12/01/washington-state-tragedy Washington State Tragedy.] ''Human Events.'' Retrieved January 6, 2015.<br />Smith, B. (October 18, 2010). [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Huckabees_clemency.html Huckabee's Clemency.] ''Politico''. Retrieved January 6, 2015.<br />{{cite news |last=Sterling |first=Amanda |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/01/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5854298.shtml |title=Huckabee Calls Criticisms Over Clemency "Disgusting" – Political Hotsheet |publisher=CBS News |date=December 1, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref name="ST1129">{{Cite news|title=Suspect let out of Pierce County jail one week ago |newspaper=The Seattle Times |location=Seattle, Washington |date=November 29, 2009 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010386501_clemmons30m.html |access-date=November 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203102157/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010386501_clemmons30m.html |archive-date=December 3, 2009 }}</ref>

===2008 presidential election campaign===

Huckabee announced his run for the White House on ''Meet the Press'' on January 28, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 29, 2007 |title=Huckabee, the Jared Candidate? |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2007/01/29/the-jared-candidate |publisher={{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}} |access-date=January 6, 2015}}<br />{{cite web |date=January 28, 2007 |title=Former AR Governor Mike Huckabee to Explore Presidential Bid |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/huckabee/huck012807pr.html |publisher=George Washington University |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

At the August 11 Iowa Straw Poll, Huckabee took second place with 2,587 votes, roughly 18 percent, splitting the conservative Republican party votes amongst other candidates.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930102253/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1652210,00.html What Iowa's Straw Poll Tells the GOP]" Time Online, August 11, 2007</ref> Huckabee spent $57.98 per vote in the Straw Poll, which is the lowest among the top three finishers.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 12, 2007 |last=Lawrence |first=Jill |title=Straw Poll: Huckabee Spent Just $58 Per Vote For 2nd Place and Revived Prospects |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2007/08/163446/1 |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee drew attention with an unconventional ad featuring [[Biography:Chuck Norris|Chuck Norris]].<ref>{{cite video | people = Mike Huckabee, Chuck Norris |title=HuckChuckFacts |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/EjYv2YW6azE| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live| medium = television ad}}{{cbignore}} {{cite news |last=Patton |first=Christopher |title=Candidate ads play nice |newspaper=Politico |date=November 28, 2007 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/7075.html |access-date=December 21, 2007}}</ref> In a later ad Huckabee wished voters a merry Christmas, and said that "what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ."<ref>{{cite video | people = Mike Huckabee |title=What really Matters |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xn7uSHtkuA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/8xn7uSHtkuA| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live| medium = television ad}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2007, Huckabee drew endorsements from a large number of religious activists, including Billy McCormack, a pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a director and vice president of the Christian Coalition of America, founded in 1988 by a previous presidential candidate, Pat Robertson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pastors4huckabeeblog.com/prominent-pastors-christian-leaders-who-have-endorsed-huckabee/|title=Prominent Pastors and Christian Leaders Who Have Endorsed Huckabee|publisher=pastors4huckabeeblog.com|access-date=June 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711175928/http://pastors4huckabeeblog.com/prominent-pastors-christian-leaders-who-have-endorsed-huckabee/|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> He was criticized for using a bookshelf that resembled a cross in a Christmas commercial as a form of signaling to Christians, and laughed them off saying "I will confess this: If you play the spot backwards, it says, '[[Unsolved:Paul is dead|Paul is dead]]. Paul is dead.'"<ref>Staff and Wire Reports for the Dallas News. December 20, 2007 [https://web.archive.org/web/20080919043143/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-huckabee_20nat.ART.State.Edition1.36c953b.html Huckabee defends religious-themed Christmas ad]</ref><ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/20/politics/main3636407.shtml Politics, Now Wrapped in Holiday Cheer] CBS News, December 21, 2007</ref> He also faced a "drumbeat" of questions about the role of faith in his gubernatorial administration and about past statements he made in 1998 about the U.S. being a "Christian nation" in which he said, "I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ." Huckabee told NBC that his comment was not politically incorrect and was "appropriate to be said to a gathering of Southern Baptists".<ref>{{cite news |date=December 31, 2007 |last=Sidoti |first=Liz |title=Huckabee Stands by 'Christ' Comment |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-12-30-4030361336_x.htm |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee has credited God with some of his political success.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Politics/story?id=3960611&page=1 Matter of Faith: Vote God 2008] December 5, 2007</ref>

On January 3, 2008, Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucuses, receiving 34% of the electorate and 17 delegates, compared with the 25% of Mitt Romney, who finished second, receiving 12 delegates; Fred Thompson, who came in third place and received three delegates; John McCain, who came in fourth place and received three delegates; and Ron Paul, who came in fifth place and received two delegates.

[[File:Norrishuckabee.JPG|thumb|Huckabee with actor Chuck Norris in Londonderry, New Hampshire (2008)]]
On January 8, 2008, Huckabee finished in third place in the New Hampshire primary, behind John McCain in first place, and Mitt Romney who finished second, with Huckabee receiving one more delegate for a total of 18 delegates, gained via elections, and 21 total delegates, versus 30 total (24 via elections) for Romney, and 10 for McCain (all via elections).

On January 15, 2008, Huckabee finished in third place in the 2008 Michigan Republican primary, behind John McCain in second place; Mitt Romney, who finished first; and ahead of Ron Paul, who finished in fourth place.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#MI |title=CNN Politics Election Center 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/miprimaries/miprimaryjan080115.html |title=Overall Michigan Results |newspaper=Politico |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Huckabee SC concession.JPG|thumb|left|Huckabee giving a speech following the South Carolina 2008 presidential primary in Columbia, SC]]
On January 19, 2008, Huckabee finished in second place in the 2008 South Carolina Republican primary, behind John McCain, who finished first and ahead of Fred Thompson, who finished third.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#SC | publisher=CNN | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results – Elections & Politics news from CNN.com}}</ref>

On January 29, 2008, Huckabee finished in fourth place in the Florida primary, behind Rudy Giuliani in third, Mitt Romney in second, and John McCain in first place.

On January 21, 2008, Huckabee received the endorsement of 50 African American leaders in Atlanta, Georgia. The endorsers cited Huckabee's record on abortion, education, minorities, the economy, the prison system, and immigration as Arkansas governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/21/politics/fromtheroad/entry3735143.shtml |title=Huckabee Courts Black Vote |last=Lin |first=Joy |date=January 21, 2008 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> However, NBC reported that the endorsement of African American leaders at the Atlanta event was 36, and "most of them connected to conservative religious organizations".<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative black leaders endorse Huckabee|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/22771493/ns/politics-decision_08/t/conservative-black-leaders-endorse-huckabee/|agency=NBC News|date=January 21, 2008}}</ref>

On February 5, 2008, Huckabee won the first contest of "Super Tuesday", the West Virginia GOP state convention, but only after the McCain campaign provided their delegates, thereby giving Huckabee 52% of the electorate to Mitt Romney's 47%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0208/Romney_loses_West_Virginia_.html |title=Romney Loses West Virginia! |publisher=Politico |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Backers of rival John McCain said they threw Huckabee their support to prevent Mitt Romney from capturing the winner-take-all GOP state convention vote.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 2008 |title=Huckabee wins 18 W.Va. GOP delegates with help from McCain |url=http://abclocal.go.com/story?section=news/politics&id=5937117 |publisher=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106232356/http://abclocal.go.com/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=5937117 |archive-date=January 6, 2015 }}</ref> Consequently, he also registered victories in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and {{wipe|Tennessee}} on Super Tuesday, bringing his delegate count up to 156, compared with 689 for Republican party front-runner John McCain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html |title=Election 2008: Results: Republican Delegate Count |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=January 9, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916170904/http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/gopdelegates/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee with a supporter at a campaign rally in Wisconsin.jpg|thumb|Huckabee with a supporter at a campaign rally in Wisconsin]]
On February 9, 2008, Huckabee won the first election following Super Tuesday, by winning 60% of the vote in the Kansas Republican Caucuses.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#KS |title=Huckabee Wins Kansas |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref>
This was also the first contest to be held without Mitt Romney, who was said to be splitting the conservative vote with Huckabee.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bill Schneider CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/05/super.exit/?iref=mpstoryview |title=Romney, Huckabee splitting conservative vote |publisher=CNN |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Huckabee also won the Louisiana Republican Primary with 44% of the vote to John McCain's 43% in second. Although Huckabee won the primary he was not awarded any delegates, because of state party rules that stated a candidate must pass the 50% threshold to receive the state's pledged delegates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#val=LA |title=Huckabee wins Louisiana |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref>

On March 4, 2008, Huckabee withdrew from seeking the candidacy as it became apparent he would lose in Texas, where he had hoped to win, and that John McCain would get the 1,191 delegates required to win the Republican nomination. Huckabee finished the race with 240 pledged delegates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Results: Republican Delegate Count |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/primaries/results/gopdelegates/index.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 23, 2017 }}</ref>

====Vice presidential candidate speculation====

Even though Huckabee had signed a television contract and a book deal with a pressing deadline, he was mentioned by most to be on then-presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's short list for his vice presidential running mate. The late pundit Tim Russert even referred to Huckabee as "Vice President Huckabee" several times when he appeared on ''Meet The Press'' on May 18, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/24693653 |title=Russert: Vice President Huckabee |publisher=NBC News |date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Huckabee was eventually passed over for Sarah Palin.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/25970882/ns/politics-decision_08/t/vp-pick-palin-makes-appeal-women-voters |title=VP Pick Palin Makes Appeal to Women Voters |date=August 29, 2008 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref>

Former president Bill Clinton has praised Huckabee and stated that he is a rising star in the Republican Party. Clinton and Huckabee have collaborated on initiatives such as the fight against childhood obesity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/theelephant/archive/2008/01/03/bill-clinton-at-des-moines-starbucks-talks-up-huckabee-downplays-hillary-expectations.aspx |title=Bill Clinton at Des Moines Starbucks – talks up Huckabee, downplays Hillary expectations – The Elephant |publisher=Communities.canada.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607065351/http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/theelephant/archive/2008/01/03/bill-clinton-at-des-moines-starbucks-talks-up-huckabee-downplays-hillary-expectations.aspx |archive-date=June 7, 2008 }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://usliberals.about.com/od/presidentbillclinton/ig/Clinton-Foundation-Photos/BClinton---Mike-Huckabee.htm |title=Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee Announce Partnership to Fight Childhood Obesity – Clinton Foundation Photo Archives – William J. Clinton Foundation |publisher=Usliberals.about.com |date=October 20, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=December 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224184452/http://usliberals.about.com/od/presidentbillclinton/ig/Clinton-Foundation-Photos/BClinton---Mike-Huckabee.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Former Tennessee Republican Party chairman and Huckabee's former campaign manager Chip Saltsman has called Governor Huckabee, "The most successful failed presidential candidate in the history of our country".<ref>{{cite web |last=Allocca |first=Kevin |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/the_most_successful_failed_presidential_candidate_in_the_history_of_our_country_146678.asp |title=The most successful failed presidential candidate in the history of our country. |publisher=Mediabistro |date=December 21, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211073110/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/the_most_successful_failed_presidential_candidate_in_the_history_of_our_country_146678.asp |archive-date=February 11, 2010 }}</ref>

===Speculated 2012 presidential campaign===
[[File:Former Governor Mike Huckabee speaking at the 2011 Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|Former Governor Huckabee speaking at the 2011 Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana]]
In a November 19, 2008, article by the Associated Press, Huckabee addressed the possibility of running for president in 2012. He said, "I'm not ruling anything out for the future, but I'm not making any specific plans."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2008Nov19/0,4675,HuckabeeBook,00.html |title=Huckabee won't rule out 2012 run for President |last=Ohlemacher |first=Stephen |agency=Associated Press |date=November 19, 2008}}</ref>

Amid speculation about a future run for the presidency, a CNN poll in December 2008 found Huckabee at the top of the list of 2012 GOP contenders, along with former [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]]n governor Sarah Palin, fellow 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/05/huckabee-and-palin-top-early-2012-list/ |first=Paul |last=Steinhauser |title=Huckabee and Palin top early 2012 list |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 6, 2008 |date=December 5, 2008}}</ref>

On December 3, 2008, Cincinnati-based NBC affiliate WLWT asked Huckabee about the prospect of running, to which he said, "I'm pretty sure I'll be out there. Whether it's for myself or somebody else I may decide will be a better standard bearer, that remains to be seen."<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Speculation Swirls As Huckabee Visits Tri-State|url=http://www.wlwt.com/politics/18192964/detail.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511012441/http://www.wlwt.com/politics/18192964/detail.html|archive-date=May 11, 2011|access-date=2 April 2009|website=WLWT}}</ref>

A June 2009 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll showed Huckabee as the 2012 presidential co-favorite of the Republican electorate along with Palin and Romney.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/02/cnn-poll-no-frontrunner-in-gop-2012-presidential-race/ | title=CNN Poll: No frontrunner in GOP 2012 presidential race | publisher=CNN | date=June 2, 2009}}</ref> An October 2009 poll of Republicans by Rasmussen Reports put Huckabee in the lead with 29%, followed by Romney on 24% and Palin on 18%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2012/gop_2012_huckabee_29_romney_24_palin_18 |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |publisher=Rasmussen Reports |title=GOP 2012: Huckabee 29% Romney 24% Palin 18%}}</ref> In a November 2009 Gallup poll, Huckabee was shown as the leading Republican contender for 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gallup.com/poll/124097/huckabee-romney-palin-see-most-republican-support-12.aspx|title= Huckabee, Romney, Palin See Most Republican Support for '12|date= November 5, 2009|publisher=Gallup|access-date=November 25, 2009}}</ref> In November 2010 CNN projected in a poll that Huckabee would defeat Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 contest.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/pollcenter/individual/index.html#1823 |title= Huckabee would defeat Obama in a hypothetical 2012 contest|date= November 7, 2010|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 10, 2010}}</ref> In a Rasmussen poll taken January 11–14, 2011, Huckabee was even with Obama at 43% each.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/romney_huckabee_even_with_obama_other_gop_hopefuls_trail |title= Romney, Huckabee Even With Obama, Other GOP Hopefuls Trail|date= February 6, 2011|publisher=Rasmussen Reports |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref>

Huckabee took stances opposed to the nature of the incumbent president, [[Biography:Barack Obama|Barack Obama]]. In comments made March 1, 2011, on ''The Steve Malzberg Show'', Huckabee said of Obama, "I would love to know more. What I know is troubling enough. And one thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example, is very different than the average American."<ref>{{cite news |first=Emi |last=Kolawole |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/03/huckabee-asserts-hes-not-a-bir.html |title=Huckabee claims inaccurately that Obama was raised in Kenya |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |date=March 1, 2011}}<br />{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Mooney |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/01/oops-huckabee-says-obama-grew-up-in-kenya/ |title=Oops! Huckabee says Obama grew up in Kenya |publisher=CNN |work=Political Ticker |date=March 1, 2011}}</ref> (This is a reference to the Mau Mau Uprising against the colonial rule of the United Kingdom in 1952; Obama himself has never lived in Kenya.)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/05/mike-huckabee-janet-porter-soviet-spy |title=Huckabee Adviser: Obama is a Soviet Spy |first=Tim |last=Murphy |work=Mother Jones |date=May 10, 2011}}</ref>

On May 14, 2011, Huckabee announced on his FNC show that he would not be a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. Despite his high national poll numbers and being seen by many as the front runner, Huckabee declined to run, saying, "All the factors say 'go,' but my heart says 'no.'"<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |title=Mike Huckabee won't run for president in 2012 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/mike-huckabee-wont-run-for-president-in-2012/2011/05/14/AFGcpk3G_blog.html |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=May 15, 2011 }}</ref>

===2016 presidential campaign===
[[File:Mike Huckabee by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg|left|thumb|Huckabee speaking at 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland]]
Political commentators speculated that Huckabee might be ready for another presidential run in 2016. He was limited by a lack of money in 2008 but with changes to federal election law allowing SuperPACs to pour large sums of money into a race he might be better positioned to stay in the race.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 13, 2013 |last=Grier |first=Peter |title=Mike Huckabee 2016: New wildcard in the GOP race? |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2013/1213/Mike-Huckabee-2016-New-wildcard-in-the-GOP-race |newspaper= The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee has in addition earned personal wealth since 2008 on the lecture circuit and his TV and radio shows. He ended his daily radio show in December 2013, which strengthened speculations about a presidential bid.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mike-huckabee-sounds-a-lot-like-hes-running-for-president-in-2016/2013/12/13/090ab36a-6386-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_story.html | newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} | first=Karen | last=Tumulty | title=Mike Huckabee sounds a lot like he's running for president in 2016 | date=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>Scott Conroy (October 23, 2014) [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/10/23/in_iowa_mike_huckabee_is_making_moves__124401.html In Iowa, Mike Huckabee Is Making Moves] RealClearPolitics.</ref>

Huckabee indicated in September 2014 that he would make the decision on whether to run early in 2015.<ref>Alexandra Jaffe (September 15, 2014) [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/217759-huckabee-inching-closer-to-2016-run Huckabee inching closer to 2016 run] The Hill.</ref> In January 2015, Huckabee ended his show on FNC to prepare for his possible run in the 2016 presidential election.<ref name="stelter"/> On March 30, 2015, Huckabee supporters launched a Super PAC to make preparations for his run for the presidential ticket in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iowa Operative Will Run Mike Huckabee Super PAC| date=April 2, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/02/iowa-operative-will-run-mike-huckabee-super-pac/?_r=0}}</ref>

On May 5, 2015, in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas, Huckabee announced a campaign to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2016 election.<ref name=Gabriel>Gabriel, Trip. [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/06/us/politics/mike-huckabee-running-in-republican-presidential-primary.html "Mike Huckabee Joins Republican Presidential Race"], ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'' (May 5, 2015).</ref> In his speech, Huckabee attacked trade deals that he said drive down U.S. wages, opposed raising the age for Social Security benefits, criticized President Obama for what he said was putting more pressure on Israel than [[Religion:Iran|Iran]], and made an unusual plea for donations of $15 or $25 a month, saying: "I will ask you to give something in the name of your children and grandchildren."<ref name=Gabriel />

On February 1, 2016, after a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucus Huckabee decided that he was going to suspend his campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rafferty|first=Andrew|date=February 1, 2016|title=Mike Huckabee Suspends Presidential Campaign|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/mike-huckabee-suspends-presidential-campaign-n509306|access-date=October 12, 2020|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref>

===2018 Florida gubernatorial election===
Reports emerged in the summer of 2016 that Huckabee, who currently lives in Florida, was considering running for governor of Florida in 2018 to succeed term limited Republican [[Social:Incumbent|incumbent]] [[Biography:Rick Scott|Rick Scott]]. However, Huckabee later announced that he was declining to run in the 2018 Florida Gubernatorial election. Had he run and won, he would have become the first person to serve as governor of two separate states since Sam Houston, who served as governor of Tennessee and later as governor of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schorsch|first=Peter|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/217601-mike-huckabee-florida-governor|title=Mike Huckabee for Florida Governor?|work=Florida Politics|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref> Before his announcement not to run, an August 2016 poll of Florida Republicans conducted by StPetePolls.org showed Huckabee leading a field of potential Republican gubernatorial candidates with 37%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Statewide Republican Primary Election survey conducted for StPetePolls.org|url=http://stpetepolls.org/files/StPetePolls_2016_State_REP_Primary_August_2_Q8U4.pdf|work=StPetePolls.org|date=August 2, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

===Trump administration===
Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Huckabee met with president-elect of the United States Donald Trump, whom he had supported for the Republican nomination after ending his own campaign in February. It was reported by ''The Daily Mail'' and ''The Jerusalem Post'' that Trump offered Huckabee the position of United States Ambassador to Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.753975|title=Report: Trump Taps Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel|first=Barak|last=Ravid|date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118232008/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.753975|archive-date=18 November 2016|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> Huckabee denied the reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/306800-huckabee-denies-reports-he-was-tapped-as-ambassador|title=Huckabee denies reports he was tapped as ambassador to Israel|first=Mark|last=Hensch|date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> He told Fox News that a possible cabinet appointment for himself was discussed but that he turned the offer down, saying, "I'm not sure it was the right fit."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/11/mike-huckabee-trump-cabinet-position-231657|title=Huckabee says cabinet position discussed with Trump not 'the right fit'|website=Politico|date=November 18, 2016 }}</ref>

His daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as White House press secretary to President Donald Trump from July 2017 until July 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-huckabee-sanders-white-house-press-secretary-2017-7|title=Sarah Huckabee Sanders will replace Sean Spicer as White House press secretary|work=Business Insider|access-date=January 17, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In January 2018, Huckabee praised [[Place:Doha|Doha]], Qatar as being "surprisingly beautiful, modern, and hospitable" after a trip there, but did not reveal that a foreign agent for Qatar had paid $50,000 to a corporation run by Huckabee as a "honorarium for visit".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Dan |title=Mike Huckabee Praised Qatar Without Revealing He Was Paid $50,000 by Qatar |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/06/mike-huckabee-praised-qatar-without-revealing-he-was-paid-50000-by-qatar/ |publisher=Mother Jones |access-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref>

Following Trump's defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, Huckabee supported Trump's legal challenges in closely contested states, stating, "I think he owes it to all of us to make sure the election was fair. I am not saying it wasn't, I don't know. But we need to know, we have to have an answer to the questions that linger."<ref name="twenty">{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Joshua|date=2020-11-09|title=Mike Huckabee: Trump team must be allowed to examine voting machines, ballots|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/huckabee-trump-legal-team-review-ballots-evidence|access-date=2020-11-13|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> On November 15, in a letter addressed to Joe Biden first posted on his website, Huckabee made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 16, 2020|title=Did Mike Huckabee Write a 'Letter to Biden' About 'Voter Fraud'?|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/huckabee-letter-biden-fraud/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=[[Philosophy:Snopes|Snopes]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Media career==
On June 12, 2008, Fox News announced it was hiring Huckabee as a political commentator and regular contributor to their 2008 American presidential election coverage, in their New York election headquarters.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |author=Mark Silva |url=http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/mike_huckabee_fox_contributor.html |title=Mike Huckabee: FOX 'contributor' |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615214431/http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/mike_huckabee_fox_contributor.html |archive-date=June 15, 2008 }}</ref>

Huckabee filled in for Paul Harvey in July 2008.<ref>Vogel, Kenneth. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11728.html Huckabee in talks for own Fox show]. The Politico. July 14, 2008.</ref> A few months later, he signed a deal with ABC Radio Networks (now Cumulus Media Networks) to carry a daily commentary, ''The Huckabee Report'', beginning in January 2009.<ref>[http://www.abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?ID=999417 The Huckabee Report]. ABC Radio information page. December 2008.</ref> After Harvey's death his show replaced Harvey's broadcasts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_on_the_radio_how_abc_will_replace_rest_o.html |title=On the radio: How ABC will replace 'Rest' of Paul Harvey spots |last=Hinckley |first=David |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=March 22, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |archive-date=December 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203170558/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_on_the_radio_how_abc_will_replace_rest_o.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On April 15, 2015, Huckabee announced that ''The Huckabee Report'' would be ending May 1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/apr/16/huckabee-giving-up-his-radio-broadcast-/|title=Huckabee giving up his radio broadcast|last=Wire|first=Sarah D.|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=April 16, 2015|access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>

Huckabee hosted a weekend show, ''Huckabee'', on Fox News Channel, which premiered Saturday, September 27, 2008, at 8 PM EST.<ref>{{cite web |author1=CNN Library |title=Mike Huckabee Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/06/us/mike-huckabee-fast-facts/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 4, 2015 |date=August 14, 2014}}</ref> For six weeks in summer 2010, Fox test-ran ''The Huckabee Show'' for the [[Engineering:Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] market; Huckabee was joined by guest co-hosts in the daily spin-off, among them Bob Barker of ''The Price Is Right'' fame.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/generalities/mike_huckabee_talks_syndicated_show_as_bob_barker_comes_on_down_168762.asp |title=Mike Huckabee Talks Syndicated Show as Bob Barker 'Comes On Down' |publisher=Mediabistro.com |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=September 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730105355/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/generalities/mike_huckabee_talks_syndicated_show_as_bob_barker_comes_on_down_168762.asp |archive-date=July 30, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''Huckabee'' ended on January 3, 2015, so that Huckabee could consider the possibility of running for president.<ref name="stelter">{{cite news |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |title=Huckabee ends Fox News show to mull 2016 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/03/politics/huckabee-saturday-announcement/ |publisher=CNN |date=January 3, 2015 |access-date=January 4, 2015}}</ref>

On April 2, 2012, Huckabee launched a long-form daily talk show on Cumulus Media Networks, who provide the call-in guests. The show, which is targeted at second-tier broadcast stations, features long-form interviews and discussions and airs in the noon to 3 p.m. time slot, directly opposite the market leader in talk radio, ''The Rush Limbaugh Show''.<ref>Stelter, Brian (February 10, 2012). [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/business/media/mike-huckabee-to-begin-new-radio-show.html?_r=2 New Huckabee Radio Show Could Vie With Limbaugh]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved February 10, 2012.</ref> On November 27, 2013, Huckabee announced that the show will have its final broadcast on December 12, 2013, stating that he and Cumulus Media mutually decided not to renew the contract.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weinger|first=Mackenzie|title=Mike Huckabee radio show ending|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/mike-huckabee-radio-show-ends-100437.html?hp=l9|newspaper=Politico |access-date=November 27, 2013}}</ref>

In a December 2013 interview, Huckabee stated that he would be launching a news organization in partnership with Christian Media Corp. International.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kopan|first=Tal|title=Huck Post joins with Christian Media|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/mike-huckabee-news-organization-101229.html?hp=r5|newspaper=Politico |access-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref>

In October 2017, the Huckabee show was relaunched, now produced by and aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Graham| first = Ruth| title = Church of The Donald| work = POLITICO Magazine| access-date = April 28, 2018| url = https://politi.co/2qSrPO3}}</ref>

==Political positions==

===Abortion===

Huckabee opposes any public funding for abortion, and believes that abortion should be legal only when the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=1657 Ark. Gubernatorial Election 2002 National Political Awareness Test] VoteSmart.org</ref> He believes that it would "most certainly" be a good day for America if ''Roe v. Wade'' were reversed.<ref>[http://bench.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Yzc0ODM5YjU0ZjI3ZWJmOWRkNGI1NjljMmY2MmI2NDY Bench Memos: The Republican Debate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111142224/http://bench.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Yzc0ODM5YjU0ZjI3ZWJmOWRkNGI1NjljMmY2MmI2NDY |date=January 11, 2008 }} NationalReview.com</ref>

===Health care===

Huckabee opposed Obama's health care plan, the [[Finance:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]. He stated that he wants to "give citizens more control over their own health care choices".<ref>[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=8 Mike Huckabee for President – Health Care] MikeHuckabee.com</ref>

===Free trade===

In his book ''From Hope to Higher Ground'', Huckabee expressed support for free trade, but only if it is "fair trade." He identified excess litigation, excess taxation, and excess regulation as three factors contributing to the loss of American jobs, and has proposed economic sanctions on China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Huckabee on Free Trade |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Mike_Huckabee_Free_Trade.htm |publisher=On the Issues |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

===Race relations===

According to a CNN exit poll, Huckabee won 48% of African American votes in his successful 1998 gubernatorial race in Arkansas.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/1998/states/AR/G/exit.poll.html "Arkansas Governor: 844 respondents"], CNN (November 4, 1998).</ref> The 48% figure is often disputed due to the exit poll's small sample size.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12338538/gop-attract-black-voters "Can the GOP attract black voters?"], Vox (August 1, 2016).</ref> Huckabee says that it is important for Republicans such as himself to reach out to black voters, and in 2015, he ramped up efforts to win those votes.<ref name=Ashley>Killough, Ashley. [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/16/politics/mike-huckabee-african-americans-voters-elections/ "Mike Huckabee ramps up push for African-American voters"], CNN (July 16, 2015).</ref>

In 2015, on an episode of ''Meet the Press'', Huckabee stated that the confederate flag issue was for South Carolinians to decide, "not an issue for a person running for president", and days later, he congratulated Gov. Nikki Haley on her decision to support the removal of the flag from the state capitol.<ref name=Ashley /> Huckabee gave a speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention that included this: "I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama's historic achievement to become his party's nominee—not because of his color, but with indifference to it. Party or politics aside, we celebrate this milestone because it elevates our country."<ref>"Huckabee assails media coverage of GOP", NBC News (September 4, 2008).</ref>

===LGBT rights===

Huckabee believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, and he opposes both [[Social:Same-sex marriage|same-sex marriage]] and civil unions. In 2006, he outlawed same-sex marriage in Arkansas, but in 2007 he stated that Americans should "respect" gay couples. He says that adoptions should be child focused and opposes [[Social:LGBT adoption|"gay adoptions"]].<ref name="issues">{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm |title=Mike Huckabee on the Issues |access-date=July 29, 2007 |publisher=On the Issues }}</ref> Huckabee, expounding upon his view on homosexuality, said the following: 
{{Blockquote|quotetext=This [gay marriage] is not just a political issue. It is a biblical issue. And as a biblical issue—unless I get a new version of the scriptures, it's really not my place to say, OK, I'm just going to evolve[.] . . . It's like asking someone who's Jewish to start serving bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli. We don't want to do that—I mean, we're not going to do that. Or like asking a [[Religion:Muslim|Muslim]] to serve up something that is offensive to him, or to have dogs in his backyard[.] . . . We're so sensitive to make sure we don't offend certain religions, but then we act like Christians can't have the convictions that they've had for 2,000 years.}}

In January 2015, he compared homosexuality to "drinking and swearing", insofar as it is "part of a lifestyle". Huckabee has stated he has gay friends, saying, "People can be my friends who have lifestyles that are not necessarily my lifestyle. I don't shut people out of my circle or out of my life because they have a different point of view[.]"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/01/politics/huckabee-gay-marriage/|title=Huckabee compares gay marriage to drinking, swearing – CNNPolitics.com |author=Eric Bradner, CNN|date=February 1, 2015|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

===Women===

In comments which he made on March 4, 2011, on the ''Michael Medved Show'', Huckabee spoke about pregnant, unwed actress Natalie Portman, saying "it's unfortunate we glorify and glamorize the idea of out of wedlock children."<ref>{{cite news |publisher=AOL News |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Mike Huckabee Disses Natalie Portman; Over Out of Wedlock Pregnancy Why Not Bristol Palin? |first=Steven |last=Hoffer}}</ref>

In January 2014, in a luncheon speech at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting, in response to a federal mandate on contraception, Huckabee stated that "Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control, they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/mike-huckabees-war-for-women |title=Mike Huckabee's War for Women |last=Lapidos |first=Juliet |date=January 24, 2014 |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=January 9, 2015}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/23/mike-huckabee-s-controversial-remarks-at-rnc.html |title=Huckabee: Dems Tell Women They Can't Control Libido Without Government |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |date=January 23, 2014 |publisher=The Daily Beast |access-date=January 9, 2015}}<br />{{cite news |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/huckabee-vs-huckabee |title=Huckabee vs. Huckabee |last1=Benen |first1=Steve |date=January 24, 2014 |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=January 24, 2014}}</ref>

===Role of religion in public life===

Huckabee has voiced his belief in [[Unsolved:Intelligent design|intelligent design]] and he has also stated that he does not believe that [[Biography:Charles Darwin|Darwin's]] [[Biology:Natural selection|theory of evolution]] is valid. In July 2004, he was quoted on ''Arkansans Ask'', his regular show on the Arkansas Educational Television Network: "I think that students also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in [[Philosophy:Creationism|creationism]]."<ref>{{cite web |date=2005 |last=Wiles |first=Jason |title=Is Evolution Arkansas's Hidden Curriculum? |url=http://ncse.com/rncse/25/1-2/is-evolution-arkansass-hidden-curriculum |publisher=[[Organization:National Center for Science Education|NCSE]] |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

In April 2011, Huckabee said, "I almost wish that there would be a simultaneous telecast and all Americans would be forced, at gunpoint, to listen to every David Barton message," in praise of the Christian revisionist author [[Biography:David Barton (author)|David Barton]].<ref name="barton">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/mike-huckabee-americans-to-be-indoctrinated-at-gunpoint/|title=Mike Huckabee: Americans to be indoctrinated at gunpoint|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406124057/http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/mike-huckabee-americans-to-be-indoctrinated-at-gunpoint/|archive-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref>

Within hours of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Huckabee made headlines in the U.S. and abroad for stating on Fox News: "We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we have systematically removed God from our schools," and he further asked, "Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?"<ref>{{cite news |date=December 14, 2012 |last=Collins |first=Gail |title=Looking For America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/opinion/collins-looking-for-america.html |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2014, Huckabee said, "Fire the ones who refuse to hear not only our hearts, but God's heart" (for which he was criticized by [[Biography:Richard Dawkins|Richard Dawkins]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 30, 2014 |last1=Dawkins |first1=Richard |last2=Blumner |first2=Robyn |title=Atheists Aren't the Problem, Christian Intolerance Is the Problem |url=https://time.com/3450525/atheists-arent-the-problem-christian-intolerance-is-the-problem |magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2015, speaking about his support of religious freedom on behalf of Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to radio host [[Biography:Michael Medved|Michael Medved]], Huckabee said, "Michael, the ''Dred Scott'' decision of 1857 still remains to this day the law of the land which says that [[Biography:Black people|black people]] aren't fully human. Does anybody still follow the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision?"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/253292-huckabee-says-dred-scott-still-law-of-land|title=Huckabee says Dred Scott still 'law of land'|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/11/mike-huckabee-dred-scott-decision-still-law-land/|title=Mike Huckabee: Dred Scott decision still 'the law of the land'|newspaper=The Washington Times}}</ref> (The decision in ''Dred Scott v. Sandford'' had been superseded by the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and nullified by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.)

In June 2016, Huckabee, along with actor Pat Boone and executive producer Troy Duhon, all of whom were involved in the film ''God's Not Dead 2'', sent a letter to California governor Jerry Brown opposing Senate Bill 1146, which "prohibits a person from being subjected to discrimination" at California colleges. Other than religious schools—those that train pastors and theology teachers—schools "might no longer be allowed to hire Christian-only staff, teach religious ideas in regular classes, require attendance at chapel services or keep bathrooms and dormitories restricted to either males or females."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bond|first=Paul|date=June 30, 2016|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gods-not-dead-2-filmmakers-907838|title=''God's Not Dead 2'' Filmmakers Wade Into California Politics|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>

===Climate change===
In 2023, Huckabee published ''Kids Guide to the Truth About Climate Change'', which minimized the influence of [[Earth:Greenhouse gas emissions|human emissions]] on [[Earth:Climate change|global warming]].<ref name=InsideClimateNews_20230731/> Marketed as an alternative to mainstream education, the publication does not attribute authorship or cite scientific credentials.<ref name=InsideClimateNews_20230731>{{cite news |last1=Gopal |first1=Keerti |title=Mike Huckabee's "Kids Guide to the Truth About Climate Change" Shows the Changing Landscape of Climate Denial |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31072023/huckabees-kids-guide-to-climate/ |work=Inside Climate News |date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731092032/https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31072023/huckabees-kids-guide-to-climate/ |archive-date=31 July 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> The deputy director of the [[Organization:National Center for Science Education|National Center for Science Education]] called the publication "propaganda" and "very unreliable as a guide to climate change for kids", noting that it represented "present day" [[Earth:Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere|atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide]] as 280 parts per million (ppm), which was true in 391 BC but short of 2023's actual concentration of 420 ppm.<ref name=NSCS_20230803>{{cite web |title=NCSE helps to expose climate change propaganda aimed at kids |url=https://ncse.ngo/ncse-helps-expose-climate-change-propaganda-aimed-kids |publisher=National Center for Science Education (NCSE) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804025333/https://ncse.ngo/ncse-helps-expose-climate-change-propaganda-aimed-kids |archive-date=4 August 2023 |date=3 August 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Military===
In 2007, Huckabee argued for a larger military and an increase in defense spending, writing, "Right now, we spend about 3.9 percent of our GDP on defense, compared with about six percent in 1986, under President Ronald Reagan. We need to return to that six percent level."<ref name="foreignaffairs.org">{{cite news |date=2008 |last=Huckabee |first=Michael D. |title=America's Priorities in the War on Terror |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63059/michael-d-huckabee/americas-priorities-in-the-war-on-terror |work=Foreign Affairs |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

===Immigration===

During his bid for president, Huckabee released a nine-point immigration enforcement and border security plan. His plan included building a border fence, increased border patrol personnel, and increased visas for skilled workers who enter the country legally. He has previously stated he is opposed to using military resources for border patrol.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/22/AR2006052201237.html| title=Interview with Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee| newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}}| date=May 23, 2006 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Huckabee's plan also required all 11–12 million<ref>[http://pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/17.pdf Fact Sheet – April 26, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207004302/http://pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/17.pdf |date=February 7, 2015 }} Pew Hispanic Center</ref> undocumented immigrants to register with the federal government and return to their home countries within 120 days. Failure to do so would carry a 10-year ban from entering the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=412|title=Pledge to the People|publisher=Mike Huckabee for President|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012181623/http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=412|archive-date=October 12, 2016}}</ref>

===Gun control===

Huckabee has voiced his support for self-defense and the Castle Doctrine, and has generally taken an anti-[[Engineering:Gun control|gun control]] stance. He believes that the concealed carrying of weapons should be allowed.<ref name="issues"/>

===Fiscal policy===

As governor of Arkansas, Huckabee received grades of B in 1998,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa315.pdf|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 1998 |date=September 3, 1998|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-report-card-americas-governors-1998|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 1998|date=September 3, 1998|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> C in 2000,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa391.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2000 |date=February 12, 2001|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-2000|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2000|date=February 12, 2001|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> C in 2002,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa454.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2002 |date=September 20, 2002|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Moore |first1=Stephen |last2=Slivinski |first2=Stephen |publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]] |url=http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-454es.html |title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2002 |date=September 20, 2002 |access-date=September 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904142858/http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-454es.html |archive-date=September 4, 2015 }}</ref> D in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa537.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2004 |date=March 1, 2005|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-2004|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2004|date=March 1, 2005|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> and F in 2006<ref>{{cite web |last=Slivinski|first=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa581.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2006 |date=October 24, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Slivinski|first=Stephen|publisher=[[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-2006|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2006|date=October 24, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> from the [[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]], a libertarian think tank, in their biennial Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors.

== Public image ==

==Personal life==

===Music===
[[File:Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee play bass guitar with recording artist Ayla Brown in 2015.jpg|thumb|300px|Huckabee plays [[Engineering:Bass guitar|bass guitar]] with recording artist Ayla Brown in 2015]]

Huckabee plays the electric bass guitar in his classic-rock cover band, Capitol Offense.<ref>{{cite web |title=Capitol Offense MySpace Profile |url=https://www.myspace.com/capitoloffense |access-date=December 12, 2007}}</ref> The group has played for political events and parties, including entertaining at unofficial inaugural balls in Washington, D.C., in January 2001.<ref>{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Glenn |title=He Knows a Little Rock |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=September 2, 2004 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/politics/campaign/02pink.html |access-date=December 12, 2007 }}</ref>

In 2007, Huckabee was given the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for his music education advocacy.<ref name="harvard">{{cite web|date=2014|title=Mike Huckabee|url=http://www.iop.harvard.edu/mike-huckabee|access-date=January 9, 2015|website=[[Organization:Harvard Institute of Politics|Harvard Institute of Politics]]}}</ref>

===Organizations===
Huckabee was made the chair of the Southern Governors' Association in 1999 and served in capacity through 2000. He has chaired the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Technology Council, the [[Organization:Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission|Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission]], and the Education Commission of the States. He is also a member of the Republican Governors Association and former chairman of the National Governors Association. Huckabee is chairman of the conservative [[Social:Political action committee|political action committee]]s Vertical Politics Institute and Huck PAC.

In 2006, Huckabee was initiated as a honorary member of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) Fraternity, motivated in part by his son David being an involved TKE member at [[Organization:Arkansas State University|Arkansas State University]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McAninch |first=Tom |date=December 14, 2006 |title=Governor of Arkansas Becomes a Frater |url=https://www.tke.org/news/2006/12/14/governor-of-arkansas-becomes-a-frater |publisher=Tau Kappa Epsilon |access-date=November 12, 2023}}</ref>

In July 2010, Huckabee became a fundraiser on behalf of for-profit Victory University in Memphis, Tennessee, and was designated Chancellor of the Victory University Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Callahan|first=Jody|date=July 12, 2010|title=Former Arkansas Governor Huckabee to be a fundraiser for Victory University|work=Memphis Commercial Appeal|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-commercial-appeal/20100713/281505042490379|access-date=October 13, 2020}}</ref>

Huckabee was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center by President Donald Trump in March 2019. His term on the board expires in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2019-03-26 |title=Trump Taps Jon Voight, Mike Huckabee for Kennedy Center Board |url=https://variety.com/2019/politics/news/trump-kennedy-center-jon-voight-mike-huckabee-1203173316/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>{{externalvideo
| float = left
| width = 320px
| video1 = [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/mike-huckabee ''Oral History, Gov. Mike Huckabee talks about the sacrifice his parents made in giving him one of the greatest gifts he ever received, his first electric guitar.'' Interview date January 24, 2014, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library]
|
}}

===Weight loss and advocacy of good health===
When he was elected governor of Arkansas, Huckabee was obese. In 2003, physicians diagnosed him with [[Medicine:Type 2 diabetes|type 2 diabetes]], and they also informed him that he would not live more than 10 years if he did not lose weight. Huckabee acknowledges that he has weighed as much as 300 pounds (135&nbsp;kg). Coupled with the death of former Governor Frank D. White (whose obesity contributed to a fatal [[Medicine:Myocardial infarction|heart attack]]) his diagnosis prompted Huckabee to begin eating healthier and exercising. He subsequently lost over 110 pounds (50&nbsp;kg).<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek |last=Barrett |first=Jennifer |date=May 5, 2005 |work=Newsweek |access-date=January 9, 2015 |title=Campaigning for a Healthier America |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214093849/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek |archive-date = December 14, 2006}}<br />{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011601380.html |title=Fire in the Belly |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |access-date=January 9, 2015 |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} | date=January 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bmi-calculator/NU00597|title=BMI Calculator from the Mayo Clinic|access-date=January 27, 2008}}</ref> ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'' called the weight loss so rapid that "it was as if he simply unzipped a fat suit and stepped out."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/us/10weight.html|title=The Slenderized Governor, With Advice to Share | work={{wipe|The New York Times}} | first=Shaila | last=Dewan | date=September 10, 2006 |access-date=February 10, 2007}}</ref>

Although Huckabee has stated that he never smoked and he never drank alcohol,<ref name="brianlamb"/> he declared himself a "recovering foodaholic". Huckabee has publicly recounted his previous burdens as an obese man: the steps of the Arkansas capitol from the entrance of the building up to the Governor's office were so long and steep that he would be out of breath and exhausted by the time he reached the top of the stairs.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Dean Karnazes |author2=Matt Fitzgerald |date=2008 |title=50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days – and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z_4P_t_T2DAC&pg=PT33 |location={{wipe|New York City}} |publisher=Hachette Book Group USA |page=33 |isbn=978-0-446-53789-6 |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> Huckabee has discussed his weight loss and used health care reform as a major focus of his governorship.<ref>Brian Wansink and Mike Huckabee (2005), "De-Marketing Obesity", ''California Management Review'', 47:4 (Summer), 6–18.</ref>

At an August 2007 forum on [[Medicine:Cancer|cancer]] which was hosted by Lance Armstrong, Huckabee said that he would support the imposition of a federal smoking ban, but since then, he has stated that he believes that the issue is best addressed by state and local governments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/huckabee-about-face-on-smoking-2008-01-16.html|newspaper=The Hill|date=January 16, 2008|author=Jeffrey Young|title=Huckabee about-face on smoking|access-date=January 18, 2008|archive-date=June 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621070232/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/huckabee-about-face-on-smoking-2008-01-16.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Huckabee has completed several marathons: the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon, the 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathon, and the 2006 New York City Marathon.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061105/SPORTS01/611050390/1271/SPORTS |newspaper=The Journal News|location=Lower Hudson Valley |date=November 5, 2006|author=Jane McManus|title=At NYC Marathon, there's no telling who you may run into}}</ref> The 2005 Little Rock Marathon featured an impromptu challenge between Huckabee and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. Huckabee completed the marathon in 4:38:31, defeating Vilsack by 50 minutes. He wrote a book chronicling his weight-loss experience, ''Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork''. Huckabee was one of 10 recipients of a 2006 AARP Impact Award acknowledging his work as a "health crusader".

In 2009, Huckabee acknowledged that he had gained back a quarter of his weight due to a foot condition that prevented him from running.<ref>{{cite news |first=Emily|last=Miller|year=2009|title=Weighty Matters: Mike Huckabee Gains 25 Lbs., 'Biggest Loser' Comes to D.C.|work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/05/injured-mike-huckabee-regains-25-pounds-the-biggest-loser-com/}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
 [[File:Mike Huckabee (5842048203).jpg |thumb|At a book signing in 2011]]
Huckabee has written or co-authored several books including ''Do The Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America'' (released on November 18, 2008) which became a ''{{wipe|New York Times}}'' Best Seller,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 4, 2009 |title=The New York Times Best Seller List |url=http://www.hawes.com/2009/2009-01-04.pdf |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> ''Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork'' and ''God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy''.
* {{cite book |year=1997 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=Character is the issue : how people with integrity can revolutionize America |publisher=Broadman & Holman Publishers |publication-place=Nashville, Tenn |isbn=0-8054-6367-4 |oclc=37369167}} a memoir (inspired by the crisis surrounding the incidents prior to his taking office as governor)
* {{cite book |year=1998 |last1=Huckabee |first1=Mike |author-mask=with |last2=Grant |first2=G. |title=Kids Who Kill |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4336-6992-7}} a book about juvenile violence (inspired by the 1998 Westside Middle School shooting, which took place during his tenure as governor)
* {{cite book |year=2000 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional about the Legacy You Leave |publisher=Broadman & Holman |isbn=978-0-8054-2336-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FRhQAmecnr0C}} a guide for leaving a personal legacy
* {{cite book |year=2005 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle |publisher=Center Street |isbn=978-0-446-57806-6}} a health and exercise inspirational guide (based on his personal health experience)
* {{cite book |year=2007 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPs to Restoring America's Greatness |publisher=Center Street |isbn=978-1-59995-110-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QSWVwyPtzYC}}
* "De-Marketing Obesity" in the ''California Management Review'', (with Brian Wansink), 47:4 (Summer 2005), 6–18.
* Huckabee also wrote the foreword to ''[http://memoryjournaling.com/ My Story Your Story His Story]'' (2006) by Larry Toller
* Governor Huckabee also wrote the Foreword for [https://www.facebook.com/pages/With-Christ-in-the-Voting-Booth/211958685634824 "With Christ in Voting Booth]" by David Shedlock
* {{cite book |year=2007 |last1=Huckabee |first1=Mike |author-mask=with |last2=Perry |first2=J. |title=Character Makes a Difference: Where I'm From, where I've Been, what I Believe |publisher=Broadman & Holman Publishers |isbn=978-0-8054-4677-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tis1PI_QlecC}}
* {{cite book |year=2008 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America |publisher=Sentinel |series=New York Times best sellers |isbn=978-1-59523-054-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqnwwlaF3OwC}}
* {{cite book |year=2009 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories that Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit |publisher=Sentinel |isbn=978-1-59523-062-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivnjtAEACAAJ}}
* {{cite book |year=2011 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don't!) |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-101-47583-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAomHRz76-sC}}
* {{cite book |year=2012 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett: A Grandfather's Thoughts on Faith, Family, and the Things That Matter Most |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-101-60169-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C0dYb157qC4C}}
* {{cite book |year=2015 |last=Huckabee |first=Mike |author-mask=1 |title=God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy |publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4668-6671-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IHMOBAAAQBAJ}} Huckabee discusses the myriad differences he's seen between those who live in the blue, coastal "bubbles" and the "bubbas" of the red flyover states. Huckabee uses Jay-Z and Beyoncé as examples of a "culture of crude". He describes Beyoncé's lyrics as "obnoxious and toxic mental poison".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Watch Jon Stewart, Mike Huckabee Clash Over Culture, Beyoncé |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/jon-stewart-mike-huckabee-clash-over-culture-beyonce-20150120 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 20, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* List of governors of Arkansas
* Electoral history of Mike Huckabee
* Republican Party presidential candidates, 2016

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite encyclopedia |first=Thomas F. X. |last=Varacalli |title=Mike Huckabee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jWxyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA360 |editor=Frank J. Smith |encyclopedia=Religion and Politics in America: An Encyclopedia of Church and State in American Life |date=July 11, 2016 |location=Santa Barbara, Cal. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |pages=360–361 |isbn=9781598844368 |oclc=921863922}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{C-SPAN|24776}}
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00007539 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=108 Profile] in the ''Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture''
* {{curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Elections/President/2008/Candidates/Huckabee,_Mike}}
* {{IMDb name|1932882}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Asa Hutchinson}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Arkansas}}<br />(Class 3)|years=1992}}
{{s-aft|after=Fay Boozman}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Kenneth Harris}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas|years=1993, 1994}}
{{s-aft|after=Win Rockefeller}}
|-
{{s-vac|last=Ed Bethune<br>{{small|1984}}}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Arkansas}}<br />(Class 3)<br>{{small|Withdrew}}|years=1996}}
{{s-aft|after=Tim Hutchinson}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Sheffield Nelson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Governor of Arkansas|years=1998, 2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Asa Hutchinson}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Jim Tucker}}
{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas|years=1993–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=Win Rockefeller}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Arkansas|years=1996–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=Mike Beebe}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Mark Warner}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of National Governors Association|years=2005–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=Janet Napolitano}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Jim Guy Tucker|as=Former Governor}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=Mike Beebe|as=Former Governor}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Intelligent design advocates]]

{{Sourceattribution|Mike Huckabee}}