Huckabee gains endorsements from former Romney and Thompson supporters

The Mike Huckabee website is reporting the following news.

News Release: Leading Social Conservative In Florida Switches From Thompson To Huckabee
January 14, 2008

Little Rock, AR –John Stemberger, a leading voice in the conservative movement of Florida has switched his personal endorsement in the race for the Republican presidential nomination from former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Stemberger will be co-chairing the Mike Huckabee Faith and Family Values Coalition for Florida, it was announced today after he informed the Thompson campaign of his decision.

Governor Huckabee is without question the best candidate to breathe new life and fresh hope into a nation and its people who are fed up with scandal, corruption and big-money power politics. Mike Huckabee is a proven leader with executive experience and a solid record as a champion for pro-life and pro-family values, Stemberger said. “As a result, he has won the trust of more social conservative leaders across America than any other candidate. He has also proven that he is a viable candidate who can take us all the way home by winning both the primary and the general elections.”

Stemberger is the founder of the Institute for Conservative Studies at Florida State University and has been one of the leading pro-life, pro-family advocates in Florida over the past 25 years. He was a lobbyist for Florida Right to Life and served as the Political Director for the Republican Party of Florida during the final campaign of former President George H.W. Bush.

Like Ronald Reagan before him, Mike Huckabee can restore common sense conservative leadership to America both at home and abroad,” Stemberger said. “He will re-envision us to once again become ‘one nation, under God’ while ensuring “liberty and justice for all.’”

Stemberger is a member of the Council for National Policy, the Arlington Group in Washington, D.C., and serves as the state chairman of Florida Marriage.org, the official sponsoring committee for the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.

“John is a strong voice in the pro-life community. I welcome John’s support and help in getting out my message that I have been a consistent voice for the right to life,” Governor Huckabee said.

The Washington Wire is reporting that former Mitt Romney supporter, Fulton Sheen, has switched his support to Mike Huckabee.

January 12, 2008, 10:25 am
Romney Supporter Flips for Huckabee

Laura Meckler reports from Grand Rapids, Mich.

This time Mike Huckabee is embracing a flip-flopper.

Michigan State Rep. Fulton Sheen endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in April, and was appointed as chairman of Romney’s “Council on Families for Michigan.” Today he flipped to Huckabee.
Romney

After considerable prayer and consideration, consultation, I’ve decided to withdraw my support from Mitt Romney for president in support of Mike Huckabee,” he told a hotel ballroom overflowing with hundreds of people.

For Romney, whose father was governor here from 1963-69, Michigan’s primary on Tuesday is a must-win. He already lost two states — Iowa and New Hampshire — where he invested large amount of time and money. But he has slipped in recent polls. The latest, out Friday from CNN, found Sen. John McCain in first place with 34% support; Huckabee was in second place with 21%, and Rudy Giuliani was a close third at 18%. Romney was fourth at 14%.

Sheen said he changed his mind because Romney does not support the “fair tax,” a form of sales tax that would replace income taxes, and that his support for Romney was compromising his effort to pass a fair tax for Michigan. Huckabee is a strong supporter of a national fair tax plan.

Sheen said he also appreciates Huckabee’s religious message. “Mike is also a man of faith and he isn’t afraid to express that faith in the Biblical Judeo-Christian values on which this country was founded,” he said.

In April, Romney was a big fan of Sheen’s. “Representative Sheen has an incredible record of service with regard to advancing the pro-family cause in Michigan,” he said in a news release announcing the endorsement. “I am pleased to have him play such a critical role in my effort.”

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden was gracious in response: “Rep. Sheen is a good legislator and a good man. We thank him for his previous support and wish him the best of luck.”

I believe these events show the strength of Mike Huckabee’s record and the message he is trying to get across to the American people.  The more people get to know about Mike Huckabee, the more they like him.

That’s my take!

Larry