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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you're such a comedian, why dont you do stand up and just crack chuck norris jokes all day you big funny man.
Go home and keep praying for that miracle that ain't coming!
I wondered where Mike has been, CNN isn't giving him any air these days, Nader either......
If a Huckabee speaks in a state...does anyone listen?
about 290 billion, huh? "a lot of money", huh? certainly I didn't read that correctly.
we could pay for Mr. Obama's programs almost twice over with what we've spent on this god-forsaken war.
President Bush has cost America more than that!!! You can't put a price on all the lives we have lost in this war that shouldn't have been! Barak Obama, YES WE CAN!!!
Holy Heck its a Huck Sighting!
If we can spend 1 billion every 2 days in Iraq, I know we can spend $287 billion on our own country.
Obama will finally put the focus on us. Go Obama. I can't wait for him to take office.
"As of September 29, 2006, around $374.5 billion has been allocated by the U.S. Congress for the Iraq war.[1] Also, around $491 billion has been spent as of February 2008, based on current expenditure rates."
Now, THAT is a lot of money, Governor Huckabee.
Incidentally, how much money was it that you stole from your state? And have taken from special interests?
In 10 years, no one will remember this fool's name.
Obama '08!
wow this is turning into WWE royal rumble. Senator Obama VS the Republican and senator Clinton. Seems like everyone want some air time by taking a jab at senator Obama.
Too bad we could not have voted: Endless war with Iraq or streets paved with gold.
We spent the money anyway...
go huck im not a republican but i think people should read the fine print on this man...... we are struggling so obama supporters lets struggle some more.....
Huckabee is the only Republican that can win against Obama in November, He has the stamina, verbal skills and ideas (like the fair tax) to be able to stand toe-to toe with him. McCain would fizzle in a one-on-one debate aginst Obama. it would be like batttling a Gladiator with a wet noodle. Wake up everyone! Huckabee is the Republicans' only chance to win this November!
Wow! You mean to tell me, he's still around? I thought SNL got rid of him over the weekend. Oh that's right, he doesn't know how to take a hint!
I didn't hear about paving the streets. Think you are exaggerating, Huck. Go back to your evolution books.
Nice try, Chuck, em ... Huck.
See ya later!
I can't imagine Iraq could ever cost us more once we leave. In fact, I'm pretty sure that anyone suggesting that should be slapped across the face.
A chicken in every pot "Winston Churchill" Obama wishes. We all have our wish list, without taxes.
not to mention the fact that his ridiculous fair tax idea with a prebate for all americans would cost over $400 billion..and thats only one of his ideas..yeah you're brilliant mike
This guy is worried about how much it's going to cost for healthcare and college costs in America but not how much it's costing us in Iraq daily?
What country are these Republicans looking out for?
Is he still running? Bless his heart...
OBAMA 08
Idiot. Huckster, go away. We can't spent money on our own people because we are spending those Billions on Iraqis who give away the weapons we pay for with our tax dollars. My husband served in Fallujah during the 2004 time of the war. He wants us out and Iraqi children threw rocks at the infantrymen. Get Real, Huck.
Obama 08
Mike didn't vote for this war or get us in it. He was busy for the last ten years gaining exective experience as a governor who was honored as one of the best and took a state from 49th to 8th in education. The truth is that nobody wants to be in this war, but I am not sure walking away is the key, either. Maybe we shouldn't have started it but I am not sure that leaving a mess is right either. I have yet to hear from someone with government run health coverage that liked it. A friend from overseas told my husband that it was not a good thing...impossible to get appointments.
Did someone hear a Fly buzzing around?? Shoooo Fly shoooooo!
CNN will you stop wasting our time by not covering this guy? He's the most irrelevant person in the race and when will he realize – it doesn't matter what he says.
Why is it that every candidate, even the real losers, are trying to bash Obama for their own gain? Don't they realize that no one cares what they think?