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Huckabee waits to hear from McCain camp on convention role Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Mike Huckabee's itinerary for the Republican National Convention next month still has some big holes in it as the GOP presidential runner-up awaits word on his role. Huckabee said Friday he doesn't know yet when or if he will speak on the convention stage during the event Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn. Huckabee is still in the hunt to be McCain's vice presidential choice, though the former Arkansas governor reiterated he hasn't spoken to McCain about the job and is not being formally vetted for it. Huckabee said he assumes he will be asked to speak during the convention, but didn't know whether he'd be a major player in the GOP's quadrennial pep rally. The convention agenda has not yet been finalized, he said. "My goal right now at the convention would be to be the most helpful I can be to Sen. McCain," Huckabee said. "Whether that's visible or invisible, that's something he's got to decide, not me." His schedule will include a couple performances with his Arkansas-based rock band and a conference on obesity. Huckabee also will join the Creative Coalition for a news conference on the importance of music and art education in schools. "What I want to do is help not just Sen. McCain, but my party and my country," he said, adding, "This isn't about me anymore. It's really about John McCain and winning." Huckabee was in Washington on Friday in advance of an anti-abortion rally of young evangelical Christians on the National Mall. Organizers said they expected anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 people for "The Call," a 12-hour gathering for fasting and prayer. In a news conference, Huckabee , "The Call" founder Lou Engle and others knocked presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama for supporting abortion rights. Meanwhile, they implored the candidates to pay more attention to social issues like abortion, which Huckabee described as the "greatest issue facing America." Though Huckabee has warned McCain against choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights, he said he would back the GOP nominee regardless because McCain has a much stronger anti-abortion record than Obama. More critical of an abortion-rights VP nominee was Bishop Harry Jackson of Washington, who said McCain would commit "political suicide" by adding an abortion rights supporter to the ticket. "If he chooses a pro-abortion vice president, he will give the election to Obama," Jackson said. Conversely, an anti-abortion running mate could motivate evangelical voters not necessarily on board with McCain's campaign now, said Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council. "It's not an issue of whether most evangelicals are going to vote for John McCain," Perkins said. "It's an issue of intensity. It's an issue of excitement." |
