NEWS
Huckabee hoping Wisconsin sparks big comeback
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by Julia Bair
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Republican presidential primary race will heat up in Wisconsin this week with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee planning several stops in the state, including one in Madison Thursday morning.
Huckabee will hold a rally at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Pewaukee and will visit La Crosse or Eau Claire and Green Bay following the Madison stop Thursday, according to his campaign’s Wisconsin blog. Further details about the visits are not yet available.
UW senior Liz Planton is a Huckabee supporter, but she said she’s learned Madison is “not necessarily where a conservative candidate should come to campaign” after being a political conservative on campus for four years.
“I’m not necessarily bummed about Huckabee’s chances in Wisconsin — he’ll put up a fight, that’s for sure, but I’m certainly expecting a McCain win in a week,” Planton said in an e-mail.
Ten Wisconsin legislators announced their endorsement Monday for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who leads Huckabee by 584 delegates.
After hitting a rough spot during earlier caucuses, Wisconsin legislators agree that McCain is the candidate most likely to win the Republican party’s nomination.
Rep. Jeffrey Stone, R-Greendale, said, “Some of [the state legislators] have been watching the race, and waiting to announce our commitment; it’s pretty clear that McCain will win the nomination, and will be good for the country in a number of ways.”
Many Wisconsin Democratic legislators announced their endorsements weeks ago; Gov. Jim Doyle has shown long-standing and vocal support for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the presidential race, while Lt. Gov. Barbra Lawton is heavily involved in the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
Sixteen Democratic state legislators endorsed Obama last week. Meanwhile, Republicans have kept their distance, holding back from early endorsements.
Rep. Jim Ott, however, said the time is right to endorse McCain.
“The primary process is really important; it’s a chance for the people to speak,” said Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon. “I hesitated to endorse, but now the voters have spoken, and it is time to rally around the Republican candidate.”
Key issues surrounding the Wisconsin state legislators’ decision to endorse McCain include foreign policy, fiscal responsibility and Supreme Court nominations. Legislators described McCain as a “true American hero who understands the threat posed to our country by international terrorism,” in a statement, and continued to voice support of McCain’s anti-abortion rights and pro-Second Amendment stances.
Anonymous (February 12, 2008 @ 6:06am):
Anti-abortion 'rights' and 'pro-Second Amendment' stances? Please keep loaded words like this out of an article, unless it's a direct quote.
Anonymous (February 12, 2008 @ 5:11pm):
You have a right to be anti-abortion, even in Madison?
Anonymous (February 13, 2008 @ 8:15pm):
John McCain is a great war hero...give him a medal...not the Presidency. I lived In Arkansas all my life until a few years ago. Mike Huckabee never tried to preach from the Capitol. He governed ; He was a Governor.
He did a wonderful job...have you been to Arkansas lately...don't let John McCain have this election so easily.
Anonymous (February 13, 2008 @ 9:45pm):
Why is it that our Congressional leaders wait to "endorse" a candidate until that candidate is the front-runner? Why can't they just look at the issues, find the candidate that best fits their views on those issues and support them from the beginning? Oh, never mind, it's politics.
I for one am pulling for Governor Huckabee. He's the one that can really make change in Washington. He did it in Arkansas for 10.5 yrs...WITH a democratic legislature.
Anonymous (February 13, 2008 @ 11:56pm):
"After hitting a rough spot during earlier caucuses, Wisconsin legislators agree that McCain is the candidate most likely to win the Republican partys nomination."
Ok..duh so now we will stand behind McCain!
Look at the issues. Look at the states McCain has won. He might be the "Parties" candidate but he is not the peoples candidate!
Stop grabbing after the spot light WI Legislators and listen to the people!
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