Huckabee: I won’t be McCain’s V.P.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/18/art.huckabee.japan.jpg caption="Mike Huckabee said Thursday he is not McCain's vice presidential pick."]
(CNN) – Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told supporters Thursday he would not be John McCain’s running mate, and emphasized that he was never vetted by McCain’s presidential campaign.
"I have never been contacted by the McCain campaign at any point about the VP slot," Huckabee wrote in the statement posted on his political action committee’s Web site. "I have never been asked for any information, background, etc., so as I have said repeatedly in interviews, I didn’t consider myself to be under any consideration."
"I think people thought I was being coy and just not talking, but I have built my political life on trying to shoot straight and tell it as it is and as I see it," he added. “I have been honest in telling you that I had no reason to believe I was ever seriously considered or “vetted” for the ticket."
Huckabee, whose surprising win in the Iowa caucuses, helped derail rival Mitt Romney's presidential bid. His position on issues such as same sex marriage and abortion made him a favorite of social conservatives. Huckabee told supporters he, too, “will await news of who Senator McCain selects.”
“I hope it will be a person with a solid record and solid convictions on the foundation issues that bring many of us to the process,” Huckabee wrote. “I’m taking this unusual step to communicate so it will come from me and not from some of the ridiculous things being said on TV and websites tonight.”
McCain is set to appear with his vice presidential pick in Ohio on Friday.
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Huckabee is McCain's only chance to win
There should be a retirement age for the office of the president of the US ................70
Failing to seriously consider Huckabee will probably turn out to be a mistake on McCain's part. I realize that he makes economic conservatives unhappy, but no single candidate appeals to all factions of a major party. The GOP faces an opponent with a highly motivated base and campaign activists this electoral cycle. The only candidates for president during the primary season who remotely had this effect on Republican suppporters were Huckabee and Ron Paul (admittedly with widely divergent sets). Obviously, Paul isn't a plausible VP choice, but Huckabee could have been, and would have maximized turnout amongst religious conservatives. In a close election, this might have helped McCain's cause. It's hard to imagine Romney or Pawlenty contributing near as much from the #2 spot.
I don't agree too much with Huck's policies but I think he is a good guy and I really do like him personally. A straight-shooter is right on.
I didn't know he was being considered. I don't care anyway. Just wondering if this blog will get more than 25 comments.
Mr. Huckabee it speaks volumes of your character, integrity and value system that McCain would NOT consider you for the VP slot. Many Republicans are avoiding the Republican convention because McCain is such bad news. Even Calif. Governor Arnold Swartznegger is claiming he won't attend the Republican convention because the state legislature hasn't approved a budget. Of course, it never stopped Arnold from leaving the state before. Heck the first year he was in office the same thing happened and he went on vacation to Austria!
Count your blessing Mr. Huckabee. McCain is political poison.
No one thought you were going to be the choice Mike, but thanks for the heads up. My question is who asked if you were going to be?
With Obama getting his internet funds from the Middle East and McCain making HORRIBLE decisions on his VP pick, it is hard not to write in a candidate.
My friends, for 5 years McCain didn't even vet Cheney, even though he would been McCain's first choice for VP. That is because John McCain was in a jail, as a Vietnam POW.
DID YA KNOW. . .MANY REPUBLICAN'S ARE COMING OVER TO VOTE FOR OBAMA!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08-'12
No kidding. We figured that out quite some time ago.
Who cares? The Republicans and neocons are finished. Americans want their country back and Obama is just the man to make it happen. NO WAY. NO HOW. NO McCAIN.
I disagree with everything that man says, but he seems like a great person.
With Huckabee out, I can still vote Republican. If McCain had chosen Huckabee, I would have voted Democrat.
I'm freaked out by the fact that he relies so heavily on religion in his decision/policy making, but otherwise, I think he's a good guy. Probably would have made a good choice.
Romney seems like a total psychopath. I can't stand the way he turns into an 8 year old whenever a reporter or an opponent contradicts him and doesn't swallow his fantasy whole. It seems psychologically unhealthy.
and he said, as the great ship sank only splintered wood and panicked rats remained....the only thing John McCain can say is.....GOOD BYE!!!
Mike, I like you. You are too good to be connected with McCain. You were the only one I was afraid might give us a problem because you were the only one that was REAL. I might not agree with you 50% of the time but you're a heck of alot better than anyone else they got! And that's the truth. Thanks Mike, I hope good things come your way!!
President Obama – I absolutely adore you, your family, your friends, your VP pic, just every single that you stand for. I see the monument now. I JUST LOVE YOU. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!
MY SON THANKS YOU!!!
Huckabee was the only true conservative and he is a good man. It's a sad day when someone with such greatness is forced to step aside.
Bush = NO judgment, NO experience
Cheney = Long-time member of Washington
Standing with Joe Biden, Obama is just another version of Bush.
Change you believe in? NO YOU DON'T!!!!!!!
nobody likes a looooooser
I don't think anyone cares who the R VP is though. With all the republican spin about what an "egomaniac" Obama was to move to Invesco Field, the fact is, he filled Invesco. McCain is having problems filling a 12,000 seat venue.
MN person here who is afraid that the candidate is going to Pawlenty. What a sad comment for the US that he is all that the GOP can come up with...not that it matters, given Obama's sure win in November.
We in MN, however, would be happy to be rid of the "P."
How dare McCain arrogantly refuse to even vett Mike Huckabee, ignore the millions of Huckabee voters. What a sore winner! Petty, petty. If McCain can't bring the party together I am going to vote for Obama!
Mitt Romney VP 2008-12 President 2012-2020
Yehaaw!!
Republicans=Dumb=Ridiculous+Very ignorant people