AP: Huckabee (R) to Set Up '08 Exploratory Panel

[Eugene]

Huckabee to Set Up '08 Exploratory Panel

By ANDREW DeMILLO
The Associated Press
Saturday, January 27, 2007; 5:44 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Republican Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and a favorite
of conservatives, will take the first step in a 2008 presidential bid, an official told
The Associated Press on Friday.

Huckabee, 51, plans to file papers on Monday establishing an exploratory committee that will
allow him to raise money and hire campaign staff, said the official, who spoke on condition
of anonymity to avoid pre-empting a formal announcement.

-snip-

"My brand of conservatism is not an angry hostile brand. It's one that says 'conservative'
means we want to conserve the best of our culture, society, principles and values and pass
them on," the former Southern Baptist minister said last month.

Huckabee, a fierce foe of abortion rights and gay marriage, isn't the only conservative
in the field and he faces a tough fight for the support of the GOP's right flank, a crucial
voting bloc in the nominating contests.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/27/AR2007012700428.html

[Arkansas Granny]

1. This was discussed on our local PBS station last night. The

consensus is that Huckabee will have a hard time even carrying the state of Arkansas in the Republican primary.

[bigdarryl]

2. Huckabee is a serious threat he's a right winger but comes across as a good guy you want .....

to have a beer with.