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Huckabee, Bill Clinton make Arkansas stops Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 By John Lyon and Doug Thompson Arkansas News Bureau PINE BLUFF - Presidential politics took center stage in Arkansas on Friday, with former President Clinton on the stump in Pine Bluff for his wife, Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee bringing his GOP presidential campaign to Northwest Arkansas. A "Meet Huckabee" rally in a hangar at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport was part of Huckabee's three-state swing before the Super Tuesday presidential primaries and caucuses in 24 states. Clinton also was scheduled to appear in Texarkana later Friday. Several hundred people squeezed into the student center ballroom at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to hear Clinton. One person collapsed about halfway through Clinton's 45-minute speech to the standing-room-only crowd. "Is there a doctor here?" Clinton asked. After learning that the person was fine, Clinton joked, "You know, I know politicians are full of hot air, but this is the third time it's happened to me in this election. I'm getting a little nervous." Clinton said this year's presidential election will be historic because for the first time the Democratic nominee will be either a woman or black. "It is going to be a big, bright day for America when that will happen," he told the mostly black audience. The state of the economy dominated Clinton's speech. "When you see these headlines saying, 'Are we trying to forestall a recession?' a lot of people think, 'Forestall what? We've been in one,'" he said. Clinton outlined several initiatives his wife would pursue as president, including increasing financial aid for college students and investing in renewable energy sources. Investing in renewable energy will create jobs, which must happen if the economy is to improve, he said. "Now there's been a lot of talk in this campaign about going back in the past. She doesn't want to go back to the past, but she would like to get people back on their feet so they can walk into the future," he said. Clinton said his wife would allow the Bush tax cuts to expire and would use the revenue to provide affordable health insurance for everyone. "We think that those of us that have benefited the most from this economy should pay our fair share to give every American health care," he said. State Sen. Hank Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, whom Clinton taught as a professor at the University of Arkansas law school, said Bill and Hillary Clinton have long fought for the underprivileged. "We call him the first brother who was president, because he understands the soul of the people. And on top of that he has rhythm, too," Wilkins said. Later, in Northwest Arkansas, about 200 people were waiting for Huckabee when he arrived shortly after 4 p.m. at the Tyson Inc. hanger at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The former governor was introduced as the "only conservative in the race" by former state Rep. Doug Matayo of Springdale. U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, also spoke on Huckabee's behalf. "My belief in the sanctity of human life didn't start a year or two ago when I started to run for president," said Huckabee, who has accused GOP foe Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, of switching positions on key issues. "The 11 pieces of pro-life legislation I was able to sign make Arkansas one of the most pro-life states in the country." Abortions in Arkansas would be illegal when and if the Supreme Court ever allows states to set their own abortion policy, Huckabee said. He said he wants to oversee simplifying the federal tax code "so that a 7-year-old running a lemonade stand can do his own taxes." He called the paperwork and regulation imposed by the federal government "a bigger competitor than the guy who owns that other store across town" for small businesses. Huckabee has 29 delegates to 97 for the Republican front-runner, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and 72 for Romney. However, Huckabee noted less than 8 percent of GOP delegates have been selected, and he said he is leading Romney in polls in every Southern states. "If anybody ought to drop out and give us a pathway, Mitt ought to let it go," Huckabee said after the speech. "He's spent millions of dollars more than me and got just as many delegates in Florida - zero. Somebody with an MBA from Harvard should see that's a losing investment." Randy Underwood of Gravette, who came to the rally to support Huckabee, said he believes Huckabee is the candidate most committed to the values he professes. "He's the only candidate who seems to sincerely enjoy doing this, meeting people and getting out," Underwood added. Huckabee was scheduled to return to Arkansas on Monday, visiting Little Rock and Texarkana, and plans to be at his campaign headquarters in Little Rock as primary results come in Tuesday night, campaign spokesmen said. |
