February 10, 2008
Huck: Could Be 1976 All Over Again With McCain As Nom
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Mike Huckabee suggested the Republican Party could meet the same fate as it did in 1976, when the GOP lost the White House to a relatively unknown Georgia peanut farmer, if it nominates a moderate candidate who does not inspire voters.
Speaking at a press conference after addressing Thomas Road Baptist Church, Huckabee compared himself to Ronald Reagan, who ran in 1976 against the party establishment, which led to a floor fight at the national convention. When reminded that the Republicans lost the presidential contest that year, Huckabee said it wasn't because the party was divided, but because the incumbent, Gerald Ford , did not energize the party.
"He never championed himself as a conservative, not a pro-life person for whom that was important," Huckabee said. "He was a really nice moderate Republican, a true gentleman. But a member of Congress and more a part of the Washington Republican establishment than representing the grassroots of conservatism."
And without naming rival John McCain, Huckabee went on to say Republicans could lose this year in a similar fashion.
"I would argue that if we do not have a candidate who can excite the base of this country, and particularly the base of our party and make them energetic and going out and getting the folks to put the yard signs in and making phone calls and traveling all over the country asking people to vote, we can lose again," he said.
Standing with Jerry Falwell Jr., the chancellor and president of Liberty University, Huckabee acknowledged that he was surprised by his success in yesterday's nominating contests; Huck won KS and LA.
"Quite frankly we were very surprised," Huckabee said. "And we weren't confident of anything like that kind of victory in Kansas. We felt we were doing well in Kansas, and I thought we would win Kansas. I thought it would be close."
He also said "all bets are off" if no candidate gets enough votes to secure the Republican nomination.
"We have party officials who wrote the rules," he said. "I'm playing by the rules that somebody else wrote. The very people that are asking me to step aside wrote the rules and now want to suspend and ask us not to go vote. Now they either need to change the rules so they can fix this so 700 votes, or 700 delegates gets the nomination, or don't create a set of rules that requires 1,191."
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
Posted at 03:16 PM
Comments
Obama is getting cocky now!!! The news plays to him,They bash Hillary every chance they get,and get any mud on her they can,but Obama stays lilly white,i wonder why!!
pete | 02.10.08 08:48 PM
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As evidenced Saturday night, the "Good Old Boys" network is still alive and kicking in Virginia. Furthermore, Tim Kaine can thank George Bush for his win as Gov. of VA. If George Bush had stayed out of Richmond the night before the election, Jerry Kilgore would be Virginia's governor today. That's the only reason Independents and some Republicans voted for Kaine!
VA Voter | 02.11.08 03:02 PM
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Huckabee is a loser. He isn't successful in anything. He raised a family of fat losers that torture household pets.
I believe in miracles, but I am also planted in the reality that he is not "God's Chosen" president and definitely the peoples chosen president.
Shame on Mormons for voting romney just because he was mormon, but bigger shame on evangelicals who vote for Huckabee. At least Romney has credentials of success. Huckabee is just a loser.
Travis | 02.12.08 02:23 PM
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