February 5, 2008
Posted: 11:50 PM ET

(CNN)— Mike Huckabee, who racked up nearly as many wins as his GOP rivals Tuesday, told CNN reports of his campaign’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated.

“Every time we win something, somebody tries to figure out a way to explain it away,” Huckabee told CNN’s Campbell Brown.

The former Arkansas governor exceeded expectations Tuesday, and Huckabee said his campaign had instilled hope in all the underdogs of the world.

“I have spent my life coming up from the bottom,” says Huckabee, and “there are a lot of people in American who want to believe they too can go from deep in the hole to the top of the mountain in their own lives.”

Huckabee’s delegate count remains far behind that of Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain.

Related: Watch Campbell Brown's one-on-one with Huckabee

Reated: Watch Huckabee's Super Tuesday speech

–CNN's Emily Sherman

Filed under: Mike Huckabee


randy   February 6th, 2008 3:50 pm ET

I'm having trouble with many of the statements made by huckabee, during his time as govenor of arkansas he had a chance to pardon 3 wrongly convicted young men for the case known as the west memphis three, 1 of the men is death row, the other 2 are serving life sentences. these young men were convicted without a single piece of credilbe evidence. and in the 10 years that he was govenor of arkansas he said that found no reason that these convictions should be overturned or that the young should be pardon. but he claims to be a man of god and that he will always choose life. but I guess when it came to the case of the west memphis three he decided not to do the right thing. he decided not to look at the facts of the case and left a wrongly convicted man on deathrow, and 2 men in prison for life. WHAT'S GODLY AND PRO-LIFE ABOUT THAT MR. HUCKABEE?

Caitlin from Texas   February 6th, 2008 3:23 pm ET

Jim Rob is absolutly right! I believe nothing will change if huckabee wins. it will be like "dubya" all over again!

CG   February 6th, 2008 3:19 pm ET

Huckabee is an idiot. Moving to Canada if such a louse is ever elected.

CarpetDeeum   February 6th, 2008 2:41 pm ET

Mike was my only choice on the Republican side.
I was going to vote Democrat, but after Sen. Biden dropped out., I was torn between Edwards and Gov. Huckabee, leaning towards the Governor. Once Edwards dropped out, I settled on the candidate that can do the most good for this country in this particular period in history, and my donations have gone to the Governors campaign.

The more Gov. Huckabee rallies and appearances I see, the more I am impressed by him. I am not a "Christian", but he does inspire me in that he is exactly what a real Christian should be. Leading by example, and all people are created equal regardless of religion or race.

Obama has time to run in the future-after he gets some more experience under his belt. I will vote for Obama in a future election, but right now we need experience.

Mike has proven that he can balance budgets and work across the aisle. But his main quality is his infectious optimism about America. All of America.

Leroy Livesay   February 6th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

What is wrong with some of you who need to call names and distort peoples names? Is it that you are not articulate enough to do otherwise? Why don't you use your name? Are you ashamed of it? I use mine. I'm proud of it. I'm also proud of a 14 year friendship with Mike Huckabee, a great man and a great Governor of Arkansas after the sleazy years of Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker. Time Magazine named Mike as one of the five best Governors in America. Mike and Janet have been married for many years. I have known her about 10 years and spent three days on a campaign bus with her a couple of years ago. Mike is the ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE in this race. He and Janet go hunting and fishing often. Rudy Guiliani has been married more times than Mitt Romney has ben hunting. The 2nd Amendment isn't about duck hunting and Mike is the only one who will tell you that. The writers of the Constitution said it was to protect the people from the Government. James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution" was one of my relatives, along with five other Presidents. Mike is solidly Pro-Life, unlike the rest, who blow in the wind. Mike is also solidly Pro-Military and has proposed a VETERANS BILL OF RIGHTS. Mike beat the Clinton machine in a Democratic - Dominated State and can do it again. A lot of Republican voters will stay home in November if John McCain is the nominee. He is a loose cannon. His temper comes from his father, Admiral John S McCain Jr., who I served under several times. Like John, I am retired from the U.S.Navy (SEABEES) and a veteran of two tours in Vietnam. I lived in Arkansas for 25 years, all through the Clinton Regime and most of Mike's time in office. Hillary Clinton is the essence of evil and has many times professed an extreme hatred for the Military. Think what she will do as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We must defeat her at any cost.
As the Democrats in Arkansas say "Vote early and often".

Leroy Livesay
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy–Charter Member

Jim Rob   February 6th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

Well AC I didn't know that pointing out the lack of morality of Mr GWB equates to agreeing with Abortion but your uneducated types do have to do some mental gymnastics to make your points. In other words, what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Care to adress the points I made? Or are you trying to bait and switch (you know, a dishonest tactic?).

Democrats don't think it's ok to kill innocent babies. Nice demonization - did you get that straight from the Nazi handbook? Democrat stances on that usually tend to favor that choice between the person and their god…because it's not your business. Anyway, wouldn't that send these innnocent babies right to Heaven?

But I see your logic: it's ok to kill dogs, kill brown people, and free rapists but it's not ok to allow a woman the right to choose?

Seriously though, regarding abortion, as if it has anything to do with anything discussed in this thread, should be frowned upon. I think the option should be legal but encourage people to use other means of birth control. I am a pro choicer who chooses life so F u very much. Now let me make my choice in peace and you can dictate your morals on your own family instead of being focused on others'. You want a theocracy; Americans don't. No one tells me or my family how to worship god.

Now back on topic - why choose the guy who's just pandering religious votes when every single candidate is a Christian? He talks the talk but can he walk the walk?

AC   February 6th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

Jim Rob, its ashame that you agree with the Democrats that its okay for innocent babies to be killed and for children to have 2 mommies or 2 daddies. Let's not talk about morals!

rs wood   February 6th, 2008 12:44 pm ET

Mitt Romney
Money Spent $87,644,955.00
Total Votes 4,077,460
Cost Per Vote $21.49

John McCain
Money Spent $39,145,649.00
Total Votes 4,797,839
Cost Per Vote $8.16

Ron Paul
Money Spent $20,380,121.00
Total Votes 564,194
Cost Per Vote $36.12

Mike Huckabee
Money Spent $7,107,364.00
Total Votes 2,383,877
Cost Per Vote $2.98

The numbers speak for themselves: Huckabee doesn't need to pay you to convince you to like him.

Lothar Vogel   February 6th, 2008 12:40 pm ET

Mike Huckabee is not only the best choice for the USA, Mike is the best choice for the world!

J.P. in GA   February 6th, 2008 12:40 pm ET

FAIR TAX FOLKS….. Please will the pundits stop ignoring that Hucks support is largerly from his efforts to abolish the 16th amendment and institute the FAIR TAX and not just evangelicals.

Go Huck!!!!

Gomer Fudd   February 6th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

Don't worry Gomer Fudd…most of your supporters can't even count anyway!

Jim Rob   February 6th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Needs to get back to? Where have you been the last 7 years with Mr. Faith GWB?! Is not his ludicrous messages from some God what got us in a lot of this trouble to begin with?

And just to let you know, all the candidates from both sides are Christian. You can't run in this country unless you are - fact.

Gomer Fudd is just touting the Bible for votes. If he believed in what he preaches he wouldn't be a Republican. After all, was not Jesus a liberator from the rich and powerful?

Vote Gomer Fudd so you can self-fulfill your prophecy and send this planet straight to hell so you can say "I told ya so"

Pardoning rapists != morality, sorry.

lacy   February 6th, 2008 11:46 am ET

As far as I can see Huckabee is the only candidate with good morals and values. We need him in office to keep the country from further deterioration. If Hillary wins the country is in BIG trouble.

Romney   February 6th, 2008 11:37 am ET

i gotta say im concerned about the "fair tax" being a college student i work mostly under the table. my taxable income last year was 2 dollars. being that i put myself through and dont get any money from mom and dad a 20 something percent increase in everyday purchases would pretty much be my financial ruin.
-Romney GO PAUL (i like the constitution as its written)

AC   February 6th, 2008 11:23 am ET

I think that Huckabee is the only candidate with true faith & morals and that is what our country needs to get back to. We need someone to stand up and fight for what's right.

Roy Carthen   February 6th, 2008 11:21 am ET

Rommney is finished and all we got to do is wait on his advisors to tell him he is out of the race. Huckabee needs to hold in there, if he doesnt get the Presidency, he would be great as a vice president.
Dont know where the democrats are. Either one would be bad for the United States. Leave it to the democrats to steal the delegates from Florida. If I were a democrat in florida I would change to anything else that is availablel.roy

FairTax   February 6th, 2008 11:05 am ET

A lot of Huckabee's support comes from supporters of the FairTax. Too bad the media won't acknowledge that the FairTax is a Big Idea and worthy of more in-depth analysis.

A FairTax supporter

Chris   February 6th, 2008 10:36 am ET

Huck is a liar. How could he look in to the television and say that the way he won w virgina was not a collaboration with mcain.

Dorothy Kaller   February 6th, 2008 10:24 am ET

This man is the only Republican I would think of voting for. Even though I am not a "conservative". He shines in his over all out look. I am an independent thinker and voter.

Darrin   February 6th, 2008 10:19 am ET

Huckabee and Fred Phelps are not similar in any way. Phelps is not a Baptist or a Christian, no matter how much he says otherwise. Sounds like you're afraid of his momentum, Cody.

Gay Lynn Owens   February 6th, 2008 10:16 am ET

Why were you surprised at Huckabee?
Iowa saw his integrity from the beginning.
When it comes to economics…… Huckabee has shown the nation that he is leading by example to do the most with what you have and not throwing millions and millions to buy votes.

John Edwards   February 6th, 2008 10:16 am ET

Just bow out old man, you are done. Look at me. I love my hair.

VOTE ROMNEY, McCain and Huck ar3

debbyjoy   February 6th, 2008 10:15 am ET

I think that no matter what the vote, Clinton and Mccain will win, because the media is behind them, giving them the attention.(shame on them) Huck could have been a lot farther along if the media had not been telling people that it was a wasted vote. I personaly am getting to the point that I wonder why we bother to vote in the out skits of the citys. We the people, in the farm country are just nobodys. Our votes don't count, and I really have been trying to study online about the voting system and I don't get why some states have 10 delegates and some have in the hundereds, and why some are winner takes all and some are not. And why does a persons vote count more in Vegas then in Michigan and why does my Govener's vote count more then hundrends in a state ? I have to admit they announce sometimes for example,, well so and so has won in the city of Atlanta for example , and there is no way the rest of the state can vote and take the win away from him, so you just stay home., Where if the media would shut up and all the voting would be in one day,, and only go by actual votes, I think you would see a total different cituatiion.

huckadave   February 6th, 2008 9:50 am ET

Mike is the real deal. I like listening to a man that speaks to Me not at me! I know that he is genuine and will be the best leader for the country. I think the media is afraid of him because they know in a debate the dems will get waxed (stomped) and they don't want to see that happen.

Robert   February 6th, 2008 9:42 am ET

All Eyes Need to Be on the Lonestar State !
Texas, my home state. A state that was once considered an afterthought in the primiaries now becomes the biggest prize left in the nominating process, this is a battle that could be staged from the skyscrapers of Dallas to the orchards of the Rio Grande Valley. The Republican Party chooses 140 delegates through primaries in 32 congressional districts and at-large delegates. With the GOP race not wrapped up, McCain has his work cut out for him here and If I were Huck I would have landed in Austin by now and got a rapid rewards card on Southwest to get from Austin to Ohio over the next few weeks.

Any way it turns out campaigning in Texas won't be easy but very costly.

RB   February 6th, 2008 9:37 am ET

Without Huck this coutry will start it's downward spirl toward HELL IN A HAND BASKET!

Higher taxes, the sit back and wait approach as our enemies plot against us because we back down on our military offensive, or basically become sissies! Loss of our constitutional rights! etc…etc…etc..

Come on Huck ! Keep up the fight!

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   February 6th, 2008 9:34 am ET

Huckabee did his part to help McCain. If it was not for Huckabee, I think that more votes and states could have gone to Romney. I still don't think he has much of a chance to win the nomination though. Huckabee still has a greater shot than Ron Pau who has none no matter what his supporters say.

HuckFan   February 6th, 2008 8:19 am ET

Huck and RP are the only ones that have an idea for the economy other then more of the same junk that doesn't work or just delays the crisis further.

Cody Harding   February 6th, 2008 8:17 am ET

Has anyone told the preacher that he can return to church now? Because he isn't going much farther on the campaign trail.

Maybe he can go to Fred Phelps to protest the ballots as sinful. They're both baptists, they should get along quite nicely.

andrew   February 6th, 2008 6:56 am ET

Huck is the only hope for america. He is by far the best candidate

Terry D   February 6th, 2008 6:32 am ET

It's not over until it's over. Louisana, Virginia, and Maryland are coming up in the next week. These are all states that Huckabee could win or at least do well in. What happens if Romney decides that he has already spent too much money and drops out? A week from now things could look a lot different. With two or Three wins Huckabee could be the momentum candidate.

Michael   February 6th, 2008 3:23 am ET

jstbnme is right, Huckabee is a man of ideas and they keep coming. His personality is hopeful and energetic enough to lead this country through any times of hardship. The media and the American people need to understand that Huckabee cannot be ignored or relegated to the backburner as a second rate candidate. This man is a well of potential.

jstbnme   February 6th, 2008 1:57 am ET

This man has more change in him than obama ever dreamed of, if the media would just mention his name a little more often( in a positive note) the man just might have a real chance. Just think of how it might be if he got the attention that Obama got, after all look how far beind he was before the media got behind him…give the man a chance…

travis   February 6th, 2008 1:03 am ET

on the main page it has a typo ("whole to the top of the mountain") its corrected here though.

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