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Huckabee's 'F' not a failure on campaign trail Friday, Oct 20, 2006 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - A conservative think tank gave Gov. Mike Huckabee a failing grade for his budget policies Thursday, but political scientists said that probably will not harm Huckabee's presidential aspirations. The Cato Institute gave Huckabee and eight other governors an "F" for their handling of fiscal and budget matters. Governors were faulted for support of tax increases and greater government spending. Huckabee, a Republican finishing his second full term as Arkansas governor, received an "F" for the term and a "D" for his 10-year tenure. Huckabee is considering a run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. While the report may damage his perception among fiscal conservatives, pundits said it's social conservatives that the Southern Baptist minister appeals to, anyway. "This is not something that's going to throw a torpedo into the side of a Huckabee campaign," said Dennis Goldford, a political science professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Huckabee has made several trips to Iowa and others to New Hampshire and South Carolina in recent months. All three states have the first GOP caucuses and primaries in 2008. Goldford said Huckabee seems to have targeted Republicans focused on social issues during his Iowa trips, making it less relevant that deficit hawks may criticize his Cato Institute "F." The anti-tax Club for Growth is one group that has repeatedly attacked Huckabee for promoting sales tax increases to pay for education reform, among other spending measures. Dean Spiliotis, director of research for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, said the club's dislike for Huckabee may cause problems for the governor in his state. "If a national organization is willing to put money out there saying 'Don't be fooled, this guy is really a liberal,' that can chip away at (Huckabee), especially in states where you're not well known," he said Cato, which promotes a libertarian philosophy, praised Huckabee for fighting for a $70 million tax cut package in his first term, but was critical of a 2002 sales tax hike, a cigarette tax increase and a temporary 3 percent surcharge on income taxes. The report said Huckabee "has left taxpayers in Arkansas much worse off." Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt was the only governor to receive an A, for cutting his state's budget and eliminating jobs. Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart said it's Cato that deserves a low grade. She said Huckabee has a solid record of lower taxes and better highways, education and health care. "We give Cato an F for poor research, false assumptions and for totally failing to get good information on which to base a report," Stewart said. Richard Wang, chairman of the political science department at Arkansas State University, said the governor can shift focus away from his fiscal record when campaigning in other states. Huckabee should highlight his leadership in a 1999 interstate highway rehabilitation campaign, as well as his efforts to reform the state's schools in response to a state Supreme Court mandate. "Clearly, we have to give him credit for some leadership in both highways and education," Wang said. "There's no doubt about that. In both of those instances, especially education, he's been, for me, a pleasant surprise." Spiliotis said Huckabee can possibly offset Cato's claims by demonstrating that spending increases were vital for education and health care programs. Those two issues resonate with voters, who may be more forgiving of a candidate who increased the size or cost of government to improve both. Huckabee was part of a bipartisan group with Fs. They were Kathleen Blanco, D-La., Michael Easley, D-N.C., Christine Gregoire, D-Wash., Kenny Guinn, R-Nev., Ruth Ann Minner, D-Del., Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz., Bob Riley, R-Ala., and Brian Schweitzer, D-Mont. |
