In the 2008 Presidential race to the White House this United States governor gave more to the election strategists and polls than initially it appeared he would. Riding high one week, sinking from view the next and then riding high as a formidable opponent to both John McCain as a Republican and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as Democrats.

Michael Huckabee, affectionately known as Mike to the electorate, was born on August 24^th 1955 in Hope, Arkansas to Mae Elder and Dorsey Huckabee who respectively worked as a clerk and a firefighter. He was one of two children with his sister who is a middle school teacher.

Mike grew up in a very disciplined household and his father was a staunch patriot of the USA.

He graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing his bachelor's degree in Religion in 2½ years before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he dropped out after one year. He has two honorary doctoral degrees: a doctor of Humane Letters, received from John Brown University in 1991, and a Doctor of Laws from Ouachita Baptist University in 1992.

Before completing his education Huckabee found part time work at a radio station where his job was to read the news and the weather.

In 1974 Mike married his wife Janet and together they went on to have 3 children, John Mark, David and Sarah.

By the age of 23 Mick had become a staffer for James Robison, a television evangelist and it was this which molded his life long religious beliefs and later his political career. Mike became a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Texarkana in 1980 until 1986 when moved his preaching to Beech Street Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he remained until 1996.

It was during Bill Clinton’s race to the White House, in 1992, that Huckabee first entered his own political race which he unfortunately lost. Always standing for anti-racism, anti seminism, anti abortion and for the increased coverage of the American people for medical insurance Huckabee has risen through the ranks of politics to such a stage that he now finds himself running for the 2008 race to the White House. He announced his run for the White House on Meet the Press on January 28th, 2007 and at the August 11th 2007, Iowa Straw Poll where Huckabee took second place with 2,587 votes, roughly 18 percent.

During his run for the White House he has frequently been criticized for statements which have been interpreted as exploiting the issue of religion due to his position as a pastor.

On a weekly basis throughout the 2008 elections Huckabee’s position and ratings have risen and fallen against other competitors, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Ron Paul.

Several of Huckabee’s stances see him losing his following among the electorate but with his religious convictions he maintains his positions on Gun control which he is against and yet he supports the Death penalty. He supports the Fair Tax as a replacement for the current tax system and often been seen tearing up tax forms in public as a demonstration as of his intention to introduce just one sheet of paper for the tax system and to enable tax payers to complete their returns on line.

In 2000, the Arkansas Governor's Mansion was being renovated and Huckabee moved into a mobile home. The move became the topic of jokes. "It's not a trailer. It's a triple wide," Huckabee said. Huckabee told Jay Leno the $110,000 trailer was big enough for ‘your chin.’ Huckabee said the move saved the state substantial money because support and security staff did not have to move to a new rented location.

In December 2007, Huckabee was criticized for his comments subsequent to the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He said that Pakistan has more illegal immigrants to the United States than any country but Mexico.

It became obvious during the early days of 2008 during the caucuses and primaries that Huckabee felt resentment of Mitt Romney which he public displayed in his message to John McCain when he told McCain it was now his time to ‘kick his butt’.

Mitt Romney dropped out of the Presidential race in February 2008 and put his backing behind McCain as opposed to Huckabee.

Huckabee continued to pursue his ambition to become President of the United States well into 2008.

ABB