Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee touted his candidacy Saturday as a chance for evangelical Christians to lead the Republican Party rather than just support its candidates.
"I don't presume that you automatically support me because of a common faith," (to this I say, excuse my French, bull****) Huckabee told a group of more than 100 conservative pastors. "I know I have to earn that. But I also recognize that there is a unique kind of opportunity. For a long time, those of us who are people of faith are asked to support candidates who would come and talk to us. But rarely has there been one who comes from us."
"Many of us who have been Republicans out of conviction . . . the social conservatives," he told reporters, "were welcomed in the party as long as we sort of kept our place, but Lord help us if we ever stood forward and said we would actually like to lead the party."
Huckabee complained Saturday in Grand Rapids that debate questions about his faith are of "an unconstitutional nature," since the Constitution forbids a religious test for potential officeholders. (That's funny, since he's the one always bringing it up!)
At the Michigan pastors' meeting, he encouraged them to "mobilize people of like mind and spirit" by tapping their e-mail lists and phone lists.
But to win the presidency, Winston said, Huckabee would need to establish a following among the 75 percent of the electorate who are not white evangelicals.
Dividing us up based on brand of faith won't win Huckabee the White House. Such division won Iowa, but won't win 'em all.
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