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Online publication ranks Huckabee top presidential candidate Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Huckabee is ranked the number one Republican presidential candidate this week in an online conservative publication. Tim Saler, a Philadelphia freelance writer who wrote the article for redstate.org listing the top five potential Republican presidential candidates said "there is very little unattractive about Huckabee's candidacy." "When all the other candidates are moving down, Huckabee stays stable and solid," Saler wrote. The governor downplayed the ranking in an interview Wednesday morning. "If you have to be on a list it's nice to be at the top of it," Huckabee said. "Obviously it's not that significant in that it's so far away." The presidential election is in 2008. The governor went on to say that "there are probably 100 Web sites and blog sites out there right now that are trying to make speculation. I feel kind of amazed that people are that focused on something that is that far away." A blog is an Internet Web log or journal. When asked if he is interested in seeking the Republican Party nomination in 2008, the governor was slightly evasive. "Right now I'm interested in my last year and a half (as governor). I really am. I've got not only my day-to-day activities here but the NGA (National Governors Association) activities are really keeping me really focused." Huckabee take over chairmanship of the NGA next month in Des Moines, Iowa, and has spent a great deal of time developing the programs and agenda for the event, which will draw governors from across the country. The NGA meeting is July 15-18. Asked about the chairmanship and the possible national spotlight it could bring him in the coming year, Huckabee again said his thoughts are not on future political aspirations. "I need to take care of the job I have and not the job that some other people think I ought to have," he said. State. Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said Wednesday afternoon that he thinks Huckabee would make a good presidential candidate and he's not surprised by the national recognition. "The governor has gotten a lot of national public attention lately for his health initiative," Baker said, noting the governor's recent weight loss, his running of the Little Rock marathon and book on eating and living a healthy lifestyle. "I think he's incredibly articulate and a solid social conservative and that gets a lot of play nationwide," Baker said. The Republican Party chairman went on to say that Huckabee is very committed to completing his last year as governor, but probably is thinking about his future in politics. "He's going to run hard to cross the finish line as governor," Baker said. "He still has a lot of things he hopes to accomplish, but obviously when your name is mentioned in those circles positively that's got to give you some opportunity to think about it." Gabe Holmstrom, executive director of the state Democratic Party, also downplayed the redstate.org ranking. "We don't put any weight behind that and we just assume right now that he's going to return to the pulpit," Holmstrom said, referring to Huckabee's Baptist minister roots. "The important thing for us here at the Democratic Party is that we know that in less than 500 days Arkansas is going to elect a Democratic governor," he said. Huckabee is term limited and the state primary election is next May 23. Attorney General Mike Beebe, a Democrat, has announced his candidacy, as have two Republicans - Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller and Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary of Homeland Security. Saler said Wednesday that he maintains a personal blog on the Internet at timsaler.com, and he also writes for redstate.org. He says he ranks the top five Republican candidates for president every week and plans to do so between now and the 2008 election. "Every week until the nomination is secure," he said. This week's listing is the fifth, Saler said, adding that it also the first time Huckabee has ranked at the top. In the article, Saler wrote that Huckabee has "got what it takes." "So when everybody else hits the skids, a 'nobody' like Huckabee can end up at the top," he wrote. The rest of the ranking has Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney number two, Sen. George Allen of Virginia third, Sen. John McCain of Arizona fourth and Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee fifth. |
