TEXARKANA, Texas (CNN) - Republican Mike Huckabee prides himself on running a positive campaign and has stayed quiet while rival John McCain has recently targeted Democrat Barack Obama.
But on Thursday, the former Arkansas governor went after the Illinois senator for ideas he says would cost Americans $287 billion.
“I hear Barack Obama say that he's going to provide everybody with health care and college tuition and pave the streets with gold,” Huckabee said to laughter from the crowd, “the proposals he's put on the table so far, already are going to cost about $287 billion dollars, so far. Now that's a lot of money.”
“What we don't know how to figure out is how much will it cost us when we walk away and leave Iraq in a mess and the Middle East blows up, how much will that cost?” added Huckabee.
After spending just one day campaigning in Ohio and Rhode Island each, Huckabee began a swing through Texas on Thursday that will end with the state’s Tuesday primary. Of the states holding their primaries on March 4, Huckabee is doing the best in Texas, though a CNN/Opinion Research poll has him trailing McCain by 25 percentage points.
In true Huckabee fashion, he laced his last jab at Obama with humor. “If we were doing the Mastercard commercial we'd simply say we know what some of the costs are. Some of the items on his agenda? Priceless.”
– CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
From CNN Politics
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Huckabee – Do you have any better ideas? You are wasting your time and the time and money of your donors by staying in a race you know you'll never win and yet you criticize the only candidate that has a shot at fixing this country. You just lost my respect.
Barack Hussein Obama is his name and he will drive this country into the ground.
Right on Huckabee!
Hillary the HOPE of 08
or vote Republican
tell 'em huckabee!!
Huckabee, please go away. No one is listening to you.
Do you really think we should take anything that comes from you seriously????????
But it Obama's plan which has been argued, would leave 15m Americans unisured will cost $287bn, how much will Hillary's plan that will cover everyone cost?
The US war in Iraq which is widely seen as illegitimate has cost far much than the $287 billion Mike Huckabee mentioned.
Anyway, the only answer to him and the republicans is, WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ WHILE IT IS STILL DAY AND THERE WILL BE ENOUGH FUNDS TO HELP ACHIEVE OBAMA'S POLICIES.
It will be far better to waste that big amount on health care, poor American students college tuition, and pave the US streets with gold rather than waste much more on the wasteful war on Iraq.
Good. Finally someone's reporting the truth about Obama and his promises.
HILLARY 08
so let's see....Huckabee, McCain, Bush, and Clinton are on one side, and Obama is on the other.
Gee, I wonder what side I'll choose.
At least he is attacking the only people he can now.
these guys are crazy Bush wasted money on war Barack wants to spend the money on America i'm sorry but what was the problem again??
Huckabee you're a fool. Go back to Arkansas.
What Obama offers is just a hollow chest that looks glittering on the outside. Empty words of promise and hope that won't translate into anything good in reality. Good going, Gov. Huckabee! Keep it up!!! We need you in the White House!!!
I like huck. But he is after all just republican candidate with no chance of facing obama. Thus I dont think this really matters. Theres not really any democrats out there going " You know what? I thing he's right" By the way why does everybody get so over the top with there obama dissin. Gold streets? Fairy tales? Celestial choirs? really cheap cheap shots. I notice obama doesn't sink to that level.
Step aside loser, u r already done!
It's OK to spend 12 billion per month in Iraq but it's not for improving our education system and Health care system !!!
such a jerk !!
Well, Mr. Huckabee, if you had paid as much attention to a potential presidential rival's policies and statements- close to how much you pay attention to your jokes (something which your campaign is) you would know how he proposes to pay for all the policies he's put forth.
I'm SICK of the baseless criticism of Barack Obama or ANY candidate for that matter. If you are going to go after someone for their policies- go after it with FULL knowledge, and if you do have it, don't participate in publicized factless speeches just to survive in a race you've lost.
Step aside loser , u r already done!
It's OK to spend 12 billion per month in Iraq but it's not for improving our education system and Health care system !!!
such a jerk !!
Where have you been Huck. We missed you. Like a sore thumb. How was the vacation? Now if you would only fold your revival tent and go home.
Well we could have had almost twice that to spend already if we have spent almost $500 billion on the Iraq war.
A Republican Program may cost 2 to 3 times the origional estimate like the prescription drug plan, but anyone who has tracked the democratic programs know you can multiply the origional cost by 5 to 10 times to get the real cost like their enviromental/global warming agenda costing 1.2 trillion to lower the earth's tepmerature by .4F. The democrates make the Pentagon look like spend thrifts or a drunken sailor thrifty! Mike is under estimating the cost of Obama and the Liberal's agenda is going to cost.
Mike Huckabee is pretty bold (shameless?) to be making Mastercard jokes considering how President Bush and the Credit Card Republicans have been running our government on debt and deficits for the entire Bush presidency!
They've run America like it's Enron.
What a mess.
heh poor hillary,
even the also ran Huckabee doesn't even have time to attack her anymore.
5 days and its over!
Seem like everyone is taking a swipe at OBAMA... I know he would overcome all these cos he is one intelligent fella. Obama for President.
Hello? Bush, McCain and Huckabee took 7 years to destroy the economy and you are laughing? I would be crying if I were you not laughing!!!
You guys started a war in Iraq and had no good reason to do so. Now with all the money we spent on this war in Iraq we certainly would have helped pay for Obama’s proposals.
Also, its time to increase taxes on the wealthy as they are getting away with being taxed at lower rate than the average American. Remember what Greenspan said? I’m able to get away with being taxed at a much lower level than my secretary. Still laughing?
Plus you guys spent so much time and effort on the war that you let the economy slip away. Please tell me when to stop laughing Huck?
Can we talk about the other problems that you smart guys will leave the future president? Can we say housing? Environment? Jobs leaving the country?
The problem the way I see it is that Bush, McCain and Huckabee know how to get into a mess(Iraq and for Huck the campaign) but they don’t have an exit strategy!!!
Now that is PRICELESS!!!