Mike Huckabee makes waves with 2016 White House talk

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said another run at the White House is a distinct possibility and that he’s in a much better spot than he was in 2008 — better known, a better money draw.

In 2008, donors would say, “Who are you? How do you spell your name? … [but now, I’m in a] different place than I was eight years ago,” Mr. Huckabee said, in a sit-down with reporters, The Hill said.

Since his last try for the high office, Mr. Huckabee has been a fixture on Fox News. And now donors are giving freely, he said.

“Not a single person I’ve asked has said no,” he said, speaking of his success at getting donations to his recently established nonprofit, America Takes Action, The Hill reported.

A recent poll from CNN/ORC gave Mr. Huckabee 21 percent support among Republicans in Iowa — nearly twice that of the second place-holder, Rep. Paul Ryan.

Mr. Huckabee said he’ll announce in early 2015 his decision about the White House, but some analysts say he’s already showing signs of running. He has visited Israel for the third time in just a few months, boosted his knowledge of international affairs and is “in regular contact with a host of people both in the military as well as the intelligence community” on various foreign policy matters, The Hill reported. All that’s a sign of interest in the executive seat, experts say.

On top of that, he has taken a couple of shots at the presumptive leading Republican candidates, Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Marco Rubio, by saying that any candidate seeking another and higher office ought to resign from their current seat, The Hill reported.

He also pointed to his governor seat as proof of his ability to lead.

“I know how to govern,” Mr. Huckabee said, The Hill reported. “It’s about developing relationships, building camaraderie, building trust. I don’t think you’ll find a Republican who got 49 percent of the African-American vote, as I did, in my re-election as governor. That had high Hispanic support. Those are things I think could be valuable to the party.”

He also said he is “a little bit’ concerned about the chances of being walled in as the “Baptist” candidate, he said, referring to his preacher past, The Hill reported.