Huckabee book tour stops in Tampa

TAMPA -- Mike Huckabee's national book tour stopped in Hyde Park today, and while it had the look and feel of a whistle-stop campaign for another presidential run, the former Arkansas governor says it's so much more.

"I don't know, 2012 is a long way away," Huckabee said while sitting in a tour bus that arrived at 9 a.m. from an earlier book signing in Sarasota. "What I want to do is help people understand that the Republican Party is not dead."

As he stepped from the bus, a line of about 75 fans, clutching copies of his recently released book, Do the Right Thing, cheeredl. "I love that man," shouted Dennis Krause, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg. "I'd love to see him run in 2012."

-- Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer / Times photo by Daniel Wallace

TAMPA -- Mike Huckabee's national book tour stopped in Hyde Park today, and while it had the look and feel of a whistle-stop campaign for another presidential run, the former Arkansas governor says it's so much more.

"I don't know, 2012 is a long way away," Huckabee said while sitting in a tour bus that arrived at 9 a.m. from an earlier book signing in Sarasota. "What I want to do is help people understand that the Republican Party is not dead."

As he stepped from the bus, a line of about 75 fans, clutching copies of his recently released book, Do the Right Thing, cheeredl. "I love that man," shouted Dennis Krause, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg. "I'd love to see him run in 2012."

-- Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer / Times photo by Daniel Wallace

Huckabee's back

Mike Huckabee will bring his book-signing bus tour to Tampa on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m. at Hyde Park Village. Huckabee has just released Do the Right Thing, which offers an inside look at his presidential campaign. Apparently, the book also rehashes his sparring with Mitt Romney, with Huckabee saying his opponent in the primaries was "anything but conservative until he changed the light bulbs in his chandelier in time to run for president," according to Time magazine. But Huckabee's  web site says the book "shows how the Republican Party can heal its divisions -- between social and fiscal conservatives, the wealthy and the middle class, the religious and the secular -- and become a true majority party again."

The Tampa book event is sponsored by independent bookseller Inkwood Books. Huckabee is also scheduled to sign books Dec. 7 at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, and make stops in Panama City, Orlando, Sarasota, Pensacola, The Villages and Southwest Ranches.

Huck dabbles in Florida Congressional race

What does Mike Huckabee have to do with the 16th Congressional primary? It appears he can't make up his mind who to support.

A political action committee affiliated with former Republican candidate for president has emailed supporters asking them to vote on who the PAC should support in the 16th Congressional Race. Check it out here.

Huckabee to wake up FL social conservatives

Mike Huckabee will headline the Christian Coalition's God and Country Gala on Aug. 16 in Orlando, in what the CC bills as effort to wake up social conservatives in FL. "His primary message will be to protect the definition of marriage.  This no time to sit home when the very foundation of civilization is being challenged," said Dennis Baxley, Executive Director of the Christian Coalition of Florida and the former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Florida House.

Huck, God & Country

Former presidential contender and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is coming back to Florida for the Florida Christian Coalition's "God & Country Gala" on Aug. 16th at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.

Florida Christian Coalition executive director Dennis Baxley said he hopes that Huckabee will help energize the state's Christian base about an anti-gay constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that would constitutionally block any recognition of  legal unions besides those between men and women. Check out the flier.

Romney expects a win, but 2nd place OK

Former Gov. Mitt Romney said he thinks the top two candidates in Florida will advance strongly going into the following Feb. 5th primary day, in an interview with Political Connections and Times Political Editor Adam Smith (in connection with Bay News 9), which will air on Sunday.

"I think the first two spots coming out of Florida will have a good shot at becoming the nominee, I think it would be hard if I came in third, fourth or fifth to consider it a successful campaign beyond that," Romney said. "But I'm expecting to come in no. 1. If I don't get no. 1, I expect no. 2, and therefore I'll continue."

Baxley dialing for Mitt

The Buzz is that former state Rep. Dennis Baxley, the incoming Christian Coalition chair, is urging social conservatives to vote for Romney in recorded calls. Some Huckabee folks are fuming  that Baxley is improperly invoking the Christian Coalition, even though he's speaking for himself.

Other robo calls we're aware of: Bay Buchanan for Romney, Jack Kemp for McCain and John McCain for McCain.

Who else have you heard from?

Pro-lifers for Huckabee

John Stemberger and Dr. David Uth, heads of the Florida Huckabee Faith and Values Coalition, announced a round of endorsements today, calling Mike Huckabee the most qualified candidate for social conservatives.

Names include Rep. Frank Attkisson, Barbara Collier of the Christian Coalition in Broward County and Pam Olson of Florida Prayer Network (full list in jump).

"Florida 's closed primary is a different ball game than in New Hampshire and South Carolina where independents and liberal democrats can cross over and vote for a candidate like John McCain," Stemberger said. "Social and religious conservatives comprise upwards of forty percent of the primary voters in Florida and Governor Huckabee can be very competitive and could win Florida as the consensus continues to build."

Huckabee's debate prep

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee went for a four-mile run with staff and supporters in Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday. He plans to spend the rest of the day working on debate preparation.

"I challenge all my other colleagues running, to come out here on the beach and run along with me today," said Huckabee wearing a running shirt that said "ARKANSAS" on the back. "I hope that all three or four of the others will make some statement that takes them out of the race and I'll make one that puts me at the very front. Tonight we can settle it all."

Huckabee's mysterious Tally stop

Gov. Mike Huckabee said in a speech on Wednesday that he had just gotten in from Tallahassee. Huckabee touted later that he met with lawmakers.

UPDATE: A meeting with lawmakers was supposed to be organized by House Speaker Marco Rubio, but Rubio said through his spokeswoman that "the timing was such that they were unable to set up a meeting on such short notice," according to the Speaker's press spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin.

Yet, when asked for clarification of the Tallahassee meeting on Wednesday night, Huckabee said that he met with lawmakers and made phone calls.

When asked if he had met with Gov. Charlie Crist, Huckabee answered, "I wish I did, but I didn't."