Washington (CNN) – One of Mike Huckabee's political confidantes in the early primary state of South Carolina spoke with the former Arkansas governor Thursday and received assurances that he is still "seriously" weighing a presidential bid.
Mike Campbell, who chaired Huckabee's South Carolina campaign in 2008, told CNN that he called his former boss after a South Carolina blog erroneously claimed that Huckabee had decided against running again in 2012.
The report quickly shot around the web Wednesday and forced Huckabee's team to knock down the rumor.
Campbell called the blog item "a bunch of bull" but said he decided to call Huckabee anyway.
"He said, 'Mike, obviously that's unfounded and completely untrue,'" Campbell said of his conversation with Huckabee. "He told me, 'I'm just asking folks to keep their powder dry because there may be something coming in the future that may be worth keeping your powder dry for."
Asked about his presidential intentions, the former Arkansas governor told Campbell, "I am weighing it very heavily and I am considering it as seriously as I have ever been."
Huckabee is enjoying the perks of a lucrative Fox News contract and has done little to signal that he's prepping for a repeat campaign, but his advisers have tried hard to keep his name in the 2012 mix as other potential candidates have taken more formal steps toward running.
Campbell said Huckabee can afford to wait longer than other candidates to enter the race because he has an existing network of supporters in key states ready to help him again, putting him in a "great position" to win the nomination.
"I think he is energized to do it, but I think he is going to weigh his options and make sure it's in the best interest of himself and those around him," Campbell told CNN.
He said Huckabee plans to make a final decision in "early to mid-summer."
From CNN Politics
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Come on Mike, we dems want all the past losers to give it one more try!
Sorry Huckster...your "job" at Fox News – Facts Don't Matter – automatically disqualifies you. What have you done lately besides "work" as a cheerleader at Fox and Friends?
Keeping your powder dry has a totally different meaning where I come from and I don't want to hear it in any way, shape or form in connection with the office of the President of the United States.
Huckabee seems like a nice Reverend but when I want a Reverend, I'll go to church, not DC.
No one cares what Huckabee does. Republicans have no credible candidates and have destroyed all chances for any election wins due to their hate, racism, lies and now their plan to kill Medicare, lower taxes further on the wealthy and then their next plan is to kill Social Security. All from a bunch of rich do-nothings who have a huge Congressional six figure salary, full healthcare benefits, and a full pension like no other person in the U.S. has. When they cut their salary in half to equal what their constituents make, end their healthcare, and give up their pension then I might take them seriously. They are just people-haters and pawns of corporations. NO MORE REPUBLICANS. WE NEED REAL LEADERS WHO WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND WHO ARE NOT RACISTS WHO OPPOSE EVERYTHING PRESIDENT OBAMA DOES OR SAYS. WHAT HAVE REPUBLICANS DONE FOR YOU? NOTHING – NOT ONE SINGLE BILL FOR THE PEOPLE. ONLY PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS PASSED PEOPLE-BENEFICIAL LEGISLATION – 212 LAWS IN FACT.
REPUBLICANS ARE LIARS NOT LEADERS.
Very interesting ... the Teapublicans use so many adversarial, militaristic, and violent images, e.g., "Keep your powder dry." and yet claim to be Christians. Wasn't Jesus the Prince of Peace, not someone who keeps your powder dry???
Of course – the Republicans have so little ammunition, they need to hoard it.
Remember the Alamo , Keep your powder dry , brush your teeth , and blow your noses ! All the Huck needs is a coonskin hat !
Mike Huckabee / Chuck Norris 2012
I don't trust any person that goes from serving God to serving man and $$. A deciever.
Huckabee, your time is now!
Reverend "Fox News" has long ago sold his soul to the Devil. When he got on the Republican Circus Train he quit being a serious candidate.
Why doesn't he just say "keep your guns loaded..."
this religion idiot is never going to be POTUS. period...He does not know what is going on, and where is Pakistan either...o.k,
Evangelical nutjobs are the last people we need to run this country. I'd take Obama any day over this blasphemer.
Huckabee seems to forget he left a lot of Arkansans high and dry when he took his millions and built his mansion in Florida. We have long memories, ask him about his love affair with illegals in our State. If he decides to run we will be reminding him and the country how he put the welcome sign out for illegals, using State money for their aid.