Mike Huckabee

CABAZON - Tom DeLay was a supporter of Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries, and likes his chances for the party's nomination in 2012 if John McCain loses in November, despite disagreeing with the former Arkansas Gov. on a number of issues.

"I've known Huckabee for 30 years," DeLay told PolitickerCA.com. "I know what kind of man he is, how strong he is. I didn't agree with him on global warming, but I can overlook that knowing what a great man he is."

During the final days of a tough congressional primary campaign, New Hampshire state Sen. Bob Clegg has turned to an old friend to help his campaign: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. In a new radio ad, Huckabee, who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination, praises Clegg's stances on a variety of conservative issues.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Mike Huckabee is ecstatic about John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as his running mate.

"The dynamics of this election have been turned on their head," said the former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate.

"She looks like Tina Fey, has the accent of Florence Henderson and kicks tail like Chuck Norris," Huckabee told the Maryland delegation during breakfast on Thursday.

Huckabee claimed he saw fear in U.S. Sen. Joe Biden's (D-Del.) eyes on TV while discussing Palin's Wednesday night speech at the Republican National Convention.

ST. PAUL -- Former Gov. Mitt Romney wrote his primetime speech from beginning to end and the Republican National Committee did not change much in the vetting process, according to Romney's staff.

Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for Romney, told PolitickerMA.com that Romney drafted the entire speech himself. The speech was submitted to the RNC for review, Fehrnstrom said, but they did not make any "substantive changes."

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- The Pennsylvania delegation's Wednesday morning breakfast will be remembered by most in the crowd for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speech on behalf of John McCain.

Less memorable, but perhaps more interesting to political observers -- it featured the two rumored leading GOP gubernatorial candidates, Attorney General Tom Corbett and former U.S. attorney Patrick Meehan, sitting in the same room.

Corbet spoke before the delegation -- Meehan to PolitickerPA.com.

During a short interview after breakfast, Meehan deflected talk of running for governor but conceded that since stepping down from his position he has met "many new friends" across the state.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has accomplished in less than a week what John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and the rest of the once-expansive GOP field failed to do in a full 18 months of campaigning: She has energized, even thrilled, the conservative base of the Republican Party.

Palin's selection as McCain's running mate is the ubiquitous buzz of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The combination of an historic pick, thanks to her gender; an ideological sister in arms, thanks to her conservative record; and a sense of momentum she has brought to what has at times felt like an unfocused campaign makes Palin practically irresistible to delegates, donors and activists gathered in the Twin Cities.

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told the Pennsylvania delegation over breakfast this morning that Bristol Palin's pregnancy will help, not hurt her mother, Gov. Sarah Palin, with evangelical voters.

"People of faith aren't people of perfection," Huckabee said.

"The polar opposite to what the media is predicting is happening."

Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, has strong credentials with social conservatives, a voting bloc that helped him surprisingly win the Iowa caucus in January.

MINNEAPOLIS--The Manchester chairman for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign says that his Gov. Sarah Palin will help McCain win the Queen City in November.

"I think he's going to do much better because of this selection," Cliff Hurst told PolitickerNH.com. Hurst said the pick has energized conservative voters in Manchester.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told members of his political action committee tonight that he will not be John McCain's vice presidential candidate and will not be in Dayton for the rally tomorrow, contrary to news reports Thursday. In an e-mail from Hucakbee to supporters obtained by PolitickerOH.com, the governor said he was never invited to Dayton. "There are reports that I’m on my way to Dayton tonight. Not true. Wasn’t invited to be there and any reports that I’m going to be there are a big surprise to me," Huckabee said.

Former Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee said Thursday that former Gov. Mitt Romney would not be the best vice presidential pick for John McCain because part of the conservative wing of the GOP won't embrace him.

In an interview on Fox News, Huckabee (Ark.), who was once rumored to be a vice presidential option, said, "I think there are better choices for Sen. McCain that have the approval of value voters."

In particular, Huckabee charged that perceived inconsistencies in Romney's positions have troubled the conservative base.

"The issue is that in many ways, Mitt Romney has had very definite swings of position," he said. "Not just on one or two things, but on many of the issues."