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Huckabee sets out on campaign trail Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WAUKEE, Iowa - Diehard Iowa Republicans crammed into the back room of a mom-and-pop pizza joint Tuesday to meet Mike Huckabee, little known to many in the room and unknown to many more in the state. Huckabee took turns shaking hands as he introduced himself: Former Arkansas governor now running for president. A "real conservative." Someone who will fix a "polarized and paralyzed" Washington. Of the 60 or so people he met at Philly's Finest restaurant in this Des Moines suburb, Huckabee's biggest fan was a transplanted Arkansan. She was the first person waiting for him when he walked through the door. Terry Snyder attended Arkansas State University and spent 13 years in Trumann. She now owns a photography business in Waukee. Wearing an ASU sweatshirt, Snyder spent a few minutes talking to the man faced with the steep task of making himself known in Iowa. Huckabee was in the state with the earliest presidential caucus for the first time since announcing Sunday his intention to seek the 2008 GOP nomination. A strong showing in next January's Iowa caucuses would position him as a formidable contender. "I went out to see him basically because he's from Arkansas," Snyder said. "I'd like to learn a lot more about him, but I know a friend in Arkansas who's very much for him. I thought he was a very personable and very nice guy." If others at the Dallas County GOP meeting were warming to Huckabee on a day where the temperature barely reached 5 degrees, it was tough to tell. County Republican Chairman Mitch Hambleton liked some of Huckabee's proposals, but didn't see how some of them could be implemented without raising taxes. Mark Skiles was impressed by Huckabee as a speaker, even though the race may be "unwinnable" for him. Huckabee accepts that he is an underdog for the GOP nomination where former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas also are likely contenders. Short so far on money and name-recognition, Huckabee is trying to get his message to Iowa Republicans on a two-day campaign swing that ends tonight with a town hall meeting in Bettendorf. Generally, the former governor advertises himself as an "positive" candidate who believes in crossing party lines in search of solutions to the nation's problems. He promised to promote social values and be watchful spending of taxpayer dollars. This trip is much more about message than money, said Eric Woolson, the Iowa coordinator for Huckabee's presidential exploratory committee. Woolson said no fundraising activity was scheduled on the trip. "If this election is nothing more than a money chase, then why don't we put it on eBay," Huckabee said Tuesday. He said Iowa has traditionally been a "filter" where candidates with lots of cash and few ideas fare poorly compared to candidates whose proposals connect with Iowa voters. "I'm going to run a campaign on message and ideas with enough money to get the message out," he said. His uphill climb would involve overtaking Romney, who Hambleton said has developed an extensive fundraising and grassroots network in Iowa over the past 18 months. Huckabee must also deflect attention from Democrats. Hillary Clinton effectively stole the stage with appearances in Iowa last weekend. "I think that mostly Hillary is shoved in our faces, so really you don't hear a lot about other candidates except for her. It's nice to hear what (Huckabee) has to say," said Tracy Hirz-Mertes, whose family owns a day care center in Johnston, Iowa. Hirz-Mertes said Huckabee could attract small business owners with his support of proposals to allow small businesses to pool money together for employee health insurance, and tax incentives to offset an increase in the minimum wage. Huckabee's stand on social issues resonates with the "old-fashioned values" of most Iowans, said Barbara Wiselewczak, a longtime Republican who said she never recalled visiting a presidential candidate so early in the campaign. Huckabee, a Baptist minister and former president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention, is anti-abortion and opposes gay marriage. Skiles said Huckabee shouldn't have a problem courting social conservatives. He said it's the fiscal watchdogs who are worried about Huckabee, governor when Arkansas voters enacted tax increases to pay for education reform and highway improvements. "His messages aren't going to be popular with those of us who consider ourselves more fiscal than social conservatives," Skiles said. "Raising taxes is not a popular thing." Hambleton said Iowans should give Huckabee a chance. "If voters were to take the time to see Gov. Huckabee and hear his message, I think he can take off and do very well here," he said. |
