Mike Huckabee

At 68 years old, Mike Huckabee physical status not available right now. We will update Mike Huckabee's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Pastoral career

At the age of 21, Huckabee was a servant for Televangelist James Robison. "His convictions instill his image and his image in him," Robison said. "Absolutely, his entire life has been shaped by moral absolutes." He served as pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, from 1980 to 1986, and the Beech Street First Baptist Church in Texarkana from 1986 to 1992, prior to his political careers.

In both Pine Bluff and Texarkana, where he produced documentaries and hosted a program called Positive Alternatives, Huckabee began 24-hour television stations. In the mid-1980s, he encouraged the all-white Immanuel Baptist Church to welcome black people. Years later, he wrote about the lessons he gained as a minister:

In 1989, Huckabee ran against Ronnie Floyd of Springdale for the presidency of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Huckabee was elected as president from 1989 to 1991.

Two honorary doctorates have been awarded to Huckabee: a Doctor of Humanities Letters from John Brown University in 1991 and a Doctor of Laws from Ouachita Baptist University in 1992.

Political career

In Huckabee's first political election in 1992, he defeated incumbent Democratic senator Dale Bumpers, who received 43% of the vote in the general election. Arkansas governor Bill Clinton was elected president by the state's lieutenant governor, Jim Guy Tucker, as the new governor after Clinton resigned from office. Asa Hutchinson, the Republican state chairman, advised Huckabee to run in the special election for lieutenant governor held on July 27. Huckabee ran a decidedly conservative campaign, knowing he was among the top conservative Democrats. He defeated Nate Coulter, the previous year's campaign manager for Bumpers, by 51%. Huckabee became the second Republican governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction, the first having been Maurice Britt from 1967 to 1971.

Huckabee's autobiography From Hope to Higher Ground recalled the cold reception he received from the Arkansas Democratic establishment on his campaign as lieutenant governor: "The doors to my office were spitefully blocked from the inside, office furniture, and equipment were removed, and the spending was reduced to almost nothing prior to our arrival." The doors were finally opened for me to occupy the real office I had been promised to hold two months before," after fifty-nine days of public outcry.

Dick Morris, a former Bill Clinton adviser, contacted Huckabee on his races in 1993, 1994, and 1998. Morris was described as a "personal friend," according to Huckabee. "Morris said the mistake Republicans make is that they are too much of a country club set," a newspaper article related Huckabee's 1993 victory. "We wanted to run a democratic campaign that would be beneficial to all Arkansans," the writer wrote.

"We started the campaign with advertisements that portrayed Mike as more of a moderate whose ideals were the same as those of other Arkansans." As a result of an unsuccessful media campaign against the Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC), Huckabee dropped out of a speaking engagement before the CofCC's national convention in April 1994. He reiterated the charges made by various media and civil rights organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, by remarking on his former CofCC membership, saying, "I will not enroll in any program that has racial overtones." I've spent a lifetime fighting [against] bigotry and anti-Semitism."

Huckabee was re-elected to a full term as lieutenant governor in 1994, defeating Democratic nominee Charlie Cole Chaffin by nearly 59 percent of the popular vote. While lieutenant governor Huckabee received $71,500 in speaking fees and traveling expenses from Action America, a non-profit group. R. J. Reynolds was the group's top contributor.

David Pryor announced in October 1995 that he was resigning from the Senate. Following incumbent governor Jim Guy Tucker's resignation after being convicted of fraud and conspiracy charges, Huckabee declared himself for the open seat and pushed forward in the polls, but ultimately dropped out of the race to head the state.

Huckabee's campaign sluggishly opposed the draft of a constitutional convention in December by then-governor Tucker. In a special election, voters rejected the proposal by 80% to 20%. In January 1996, Huckabee campaigned in televised ads paid for by the Republican National Committee and the Arkansas Republican Party against a highway referendum. Tucker favored the referendum, which included tax hikes and a bond program, to add 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) of highway. The bond issue, which included a sales tax increase and a gas tax increase, dropped by 87% to 13. A second question, a five-cent hike on diesel sales, lost by 86–14 percent. Tucker's proposal for school consolidation was also rejected by Huckabee.

Tucker was found "on one count of arranging nearly $3 million in fraudulent loans" as part of the Whitewater scandal in May 1996. The Arkansas Constitution, like virtually all state constitutions in the United States, does not allow convicted felons to serve. Tucker has since resigned by July 15, and he has also promised to resign by July 15. Huckabee also announced that he would abandon the Senate race and replace it with the unexpired term of Tucker. Tucker, on the other hand, rescinded his resignation as Huckabee was set to be sworn in on July 15. Tucker resigned within a few hours after Huckabee and the legislature threatened to start impeachment hearings against Tucker. Huckabee was later sworn in as governor, but not before.

In November 1998, Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term by defeating retired colonel Gene McVay in the primary and Jonesboro attorney Bill Bristow in the general election, becoming the state's third elected Republican governor since Reconstruction. According to a CNN exit poll, Huckabee received 48% of the African American vote in his 1998 election; however, some analysts have questioned whether those figures are a representative sample of how he did overall in the election.

By Americans for Tax Reform in 2001, Huckabee was named "Friend of a Taxpayer" for his reduction in statewide spending.

In November 2002, Huckabee was elected to his second four-year term after defeating State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher, who received 57% of the vote. Despite his reelection in the general election of fellow Republican U.S. Senator Jack Lazarus, he was reelection. Senator Tim Hutchinson.

Huckabee received acclaim for his state's quick response to Hurricane Katrina. "Huckabee has tackled his state's challenges with electricity and innovation," Time magazine named him as one of the country's best governors, "who occasionally praises liberal Democrats and, occasionally, liberal Democrats." The Huckabee was also listed in the Year's Top Public Officials of the Year by a governing magazine.

Huckabee was crowned one of Time's top five governors in 2005, named as one of the year's top ten governors and the Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award by the American Public Health Association in 2005.

He was honoured with the AARP's Impact Award in 2006 for his health efforts.

In December 2008, Huckabee became an honorary member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He said that he did not have time to enroll in a fraternity in college because he had to "cram four years into a little more than two years." "They were extremely impressed with his character and the programs he led" as governor, according to the fraternity's CEO.

Huckabee served for the third time as governor of Arkansas by the time he served. Only Democrats Orval Faubus, who served six-year terms (1955–1967), and Bill Clinton, who served 11 years, 11 months (1979-1982, 1983–1992) were among the former Democrats.

During his tenure as governor, Huckabee advocated for a net tax increase of $505 million. According to columnist Margaret Carlson, the money was used to improve roads, health care, and schools in the state.

In total, Huckabee commuted and accepted pardon sentences twice as many sentences as his three predecessors combined; in total, 1,033 prisoners were released. Twelve people had been found guilty of murder before. Although Huckabee pardoned more than his predecessors, the state prison population and number of prisoners were increased, and Huckabee denied 92% of all clemency requests during his 10.5 years as governor. The majority of pardons and commutations were not for prisoners, but for those whose sentences had been completed and were seeking jobs. During the 2008 Republican primary, Huckabee's pardons and commutations became a point of contention, with the bulk of the debate focusing on Wayne Dumond.

In November 2009, Huckabee's handling of clemency petitions in the case of Maurice Clemmons, who had committed robbery without a pistol at the age of 16. The Prison Transfer Board approved a sentence commutation for Clemmons unanimously, as did the trial judge. By Huckabee, the 60-year sentence was commuted to 47 years, making him eligible for parole if approved by the parole board. Clemmons was arrested on several counts, including child molestation and aggravated assault, but prosecutors were cleared after prosecutors refused to press charges. Clemmons killed four police officers in Lakewood, Washington, triggering a two-day war, and Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle Police Department officer after refusing to obey police orders not to arrest the officer. According to Jonathan Martin of The Seattle Times, Huckabee apparently failed to examine Clemmons' jail file, which was "thick with violence and no signs of recovery." Huckabee defended his position, arguing that the decision to suspend the sentence was made by the parole board, not him, and that Clemmons had been re-arrested, and that there was no reason to report charges later.

On Meet the Press on January 28, 2007, Huckabee announced his bid for the White House.

Huckabee came in second place with 2,587 votes, about 18 percent, splitting the conservative Republican party's vote among other candidates at the August 11 Iowa Straw Poll. In the Straw Poll, Huckabee's vote was the lowest among the top three finishers. With an unusual ad starring Chuck Norris, Huckabee caught the attention of the world. In a later ad Huckabee wished voters a Merry Christmas but said, "what really matters is the commemoration of Christ's birthday."

In November 2007, Huckabee received the endorsement of a large number of religious activists, including Billy McCormack, a clergyman in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Christen Christ, the Christian Coalition of America's founding in 1988 by Pat Robertson, a former presidential candidate. He was chastised for using a bookshelf that looked like a cross in a Christmas advertisement as a way of indicating to Christians, and the crowd erupted, saying, 'Paul is dead,' so it says.' "Paul is dead," says the narrator. He also answered a "drumbeat" of questions about the role of faith in his gubernatorial administration and further remarks he made about the United States as a "Christian nation" in which he said, "I hope we answer the alarm clock and restore this nation to Christ." Huckabee's remark was not politically incorrect, according to NBC, and it was "appropriate to be addressed to a gathering of Southern Baptists." Huckabee has credited God with some of his political triumphs.

Huckabee, who finished third in fourth place and received 17 delegates, triumphed the Iowa Republican caucuses on January 3, 2008; and Ron Paul, who came in fifth place and received three delegates; and Mitt Romney, who finished second, who finished third with 35 delegates; and John McCain, who placed third place and received three delegates; and Ron Paul, who came in fifth place and received two delegates; and David Perez, who came in fourth place and received two delegates;

Huckabee placed third in third place in the New Hampshire primary, behind John McCain in first place and Mitt Romney who came in second, with Huckabee receiving one more delegates from the campaign, and McCain received 10 for McCain, compared to 30 for Romney (30 via elections), with 20 for Romney and 10 for McCain in third place, versus 30 total (24 via elections).

Huckabee placed third in third place in the Michigan Republican primary, 2008, behind John McCain in second place; Mitt Romney, who placed first; and Ron Paul, who came in fourth place.

Huckabee finished in second place in the South Carolina Republican primary in 2008, behind John McCain, who came first and ahead of Fred Thompson, who placed third.

In the Florida primary, Huckabee finished fourth, behind Rudy Giuliani in third, Mitt Romney in second, and John McCain in first place on January 29, 2008.

In Atlanta, Georgia, Huckabee received the support of 50 African American leaders on January 21, 2008. The endorsers cited Huckabee's record as governor of Arkansas, education, minorities, the economy, the prison system, and immigration. However, NBC announced that the support of African American leaders at the Atlanta event was 36, and that "the majority of them were linked to conservative religious organisations."

Huckabee won the first contest of "Super Tuesday" in West Virginia, but only after the McCain campaign ran their delegates, giving Huckabee 52% of the electorate to Mitt Romney's 47%. Huckabee's backers have attempted to discourage Mitt Romney from winning the Republican state convention vote, according to rival John McCain. As a result, he won victories in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee on Super Tuesday, taking his total delegate count up to 156, down from 689 for Republican party front-runner John McCain.

Following Super Tuesday, Huckabee won the first election in the Kansas Republican Caucuses on February 9, 2008. This was also the first election to be held without Mitt Romney, who was expected to split the conservative vote with Huckabee. Huckabee also won the Louisiana Republican Primary with 44% of the vote to John McCain's 43% in second place. Despite Huckabee's winning the primary, he was not given any delegates because state party laws require that a candidate must pass the 50 percent threshold in order to qualify for the state's pledged delegates.

Huckabee withdrew from running for the Republican nomination in Texas, where he had hoped to win, and that John McCain would receive the 1,191 delegates needed to win the Republican nomination on March 4, 2008. With 240 pledged delegates, Huckabee took the lead in the campaign.

Despite the fact that Huckabee had signed a television contract and a book contract with a pressing deadline, the politician was listed by most on then-presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's short list for his vice presidential mate. When Tim Russert appeared on Meet the Press on May 18, 2008, he even referred to Huckabee as "Vice President Huckabee." Sarah Palin's Huckabee was eventually dismissed.

Former President Bill Clinton has praised Huckabee and said that he is a rising star in the Republican Party. Clinton and Huckabee have collaborated on campaigns such as the fight against childhood obesity. Governor Huckabee, according to former Tennessee Republican Party chairman and former Huckabee's former campaign manager Chip Saltsman, who has dubbed him "the most popular failed presidential candidate in our country."

In a November 19, 2008, article by the Associated Press, Huckabee discussed the possibility of running for president in 2012. "I'm not ruling out anything for the future, but I'm not making any concrete plans," he said.

In the midst of rumors of a future for the Presidency, a CNN poll in December 2008 found Huckabee at the top of the list of 2012 GOP candidates, as well as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, fellow 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be out there," Huckabee told NBC affiliate WLWT on December 3, 2008. It's either for myself or someone else, I can't decide that will be a better standard bearer."

According to a national poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation in June 2009, Huckabee was the 2012 presidential co-favorite of the Republican electorate, as well as Palin and Romney. According to a Rasmussen Reports survey in October 2009, Huckabee led the way with 29 percent, followed by Romney on 24 percent, and Palin on 18%. In a November 2009 Gallup poll, Huckabee was rated as the leading Republican candidate for 2012. In a poll published in November 2010, CNN expected that Huckabee would defeat Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election. Huckabee was even with Obama at 53% in a Rasmussen poll conducted January 11-14, 2011.

Huckabee took a stand against the incumbent president, Barack Obama. "I would love to know more," Huckabee said of Obama on The Steve Malzberg Show on March 1, 2011. What I hear is worrying enough. One thing I do know is that he grew up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example, is significantly different from the average American." (This is a reference to the Mau Mau Uprising in 1952 against the British monarchy's colonial reign; Obama has never lived in Kenya).

Huckabee declared on his FNC show on May 14, 2011 that he would not run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Despite his high national poll numbers and being seen by many as the front runner, Huckabee declined to run, saying, "all the variables point to 'go,' but my heart says 'no.'"

According to political commentators, Huckabee may have been up for another presidential bid in 2016. He was limited by a lack of funds in 2008, but with reforms to federal election law encouraging SuperPACs to pour large sums of money into a contest, he may be better positioned to remain in the race. In addition, Huckabee has earned personal fortune since 2008 on the lecture circuit and his TV and radio shows. In December 2013, he canceled his daily radio show, fueling rumors about a presidential run.

In September 2014, Huckabee said he would make the call about whether or not to run early in 2015. In January 2015, Huckabee ended his FNC appearance to prepare for his potential run in the 2016 presidential race. On March 30, 2015, Huckabee supporters announced a Super PAC to make preparations for his campaign for the Presidential nomination in 2016.

In his hometown of Hope, Arkansas, Huckabee declared a campaign on May 5, 2015, seeking the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2016 election. Huckabee said in his address that he criticized trade agreements that lowered US wages, opposed increasing the age for Social Security benefits, and accused President Obama for more pressure on Israel than Iran, and made an unusual appeal for $30 or $40 a month.

After a poor showing in the Iowa caucus, Huckabee decided to suspend his campaign on February 1, 2016.

In the summer of 2016, Huckabee, who now lives in Florida, was considered a candidate for governor of Florida in 2018 to replace term limited Republican incumbent Rick Scott. However, Huckabee declared later that he did not run in the 2018 Florida Gubernatorial election. If he had run and won, he would have been the first person to rule two separate states since Sam Houston, who served as governor of Tennessee and later as governor of Texas. Huckabee led a field of potential Republican gubernatorial candidates with 37 percent before he announced not to run in August 2016. www.souther.com conducted a poll of Florida Republicans commissioned by StPetePolls.org in August 2016.

Following the 2016 US presidential race, Huckabee spoke with president Donald Trump, who had endorsed the Republican nomination after putting an end to his own campaign in February. Trump offered Huckabee the position of United States Ambassador to Israel, according to The Daily Mail and The Jerusalem Post. The allegations were denied by Huckabee. He told Fox News that a potential cabinet appointment for himself was considered, but that he turned down the offer "I'm not positive it was the right fit."

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his daughter, served as the White House press secretary to President Donald Trump from July 2017 to July 2019.

After a trip to Doha, Qatar, in January 2018, Huckabee praised the city as being "surprisingly beautiful, modern, and hospitable," but did not reveal that a foreign agent for Qatar paid $50,000 to a Huckabee-owned company as a "honorarium for visit."

Following Trump's demise in the 2020 presidential race, Huckabee endorsed Trump's legal challenges in tight states, saying, "I think he owes it to all of us to make sure the election was fair." I am not saying it wasn't true; I don't know. However, we must know that we must have an answer to the questions that linger." Huckabee denied charges of election fraud in the 2020 election in a letter sent to Joe Biden first published on his website in November 15.

Media career

Fox News' New York election headquarters announced on June 12, 2008, that it had recruited Huckabee as a political commentator and regular contributor to their 2008 American presidential election coverage.

In July 2008, Huckabee replaced Paul Harvey in his place. He signed a three-month contract with ABC Radio Networks (now Cumulus Media Networks) to produce a daily commentary called The Huckabee Report, which launched in January 2009. Harvey's show was replaced on Harvey's broadcasts after Harvey's death. Huckabee announced on April 15, 2015 that The Huckabee Report would be ending on May 1, but followers may be able to see similar content that they would pay for.

On Fox News Channel, Huckabee hosted a weekend show, starting at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, September 27, 2008. Fox hosted The Huckabee Show for the syndicated market for six weeks in summer 2010, including Bob Barker of The Price Is Right fame. Huckabee died on January 3, 2015, so Huckabee could consider running for president.

Cumulus Media Networks, the call-in visitors, launched a long-running daily talk show on April 2, 2012. The show, which is aimed at second-tier broadcast stations, airs in the noon to 3 p.m. time slot, directly opposite the market leader in talk radio, The Rush Limbaugh Show. Huckabee announced on November 27, 2013 that the show will be the last broadcast on December 12, 2013, citing that he and Cumulus Media have mutually agreed not to renew the deal.

In a December 2013 interview, Huckabee said he would establish a news group in collaboration with Christian Media Corp. International.

The Huckabee show was relaunched in October 2017 and subsequently broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Source