Mike Huckabee’s resume ripped by Club for Growth

Likely foreshadowing the attacks to come, the influential Club for Growth warned Monday that it will make sure that voters are aware of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s “poor” record on taxes and spending if he runs for president.

“As Mike Huckabee weighs the pros and cons of a second presidential candidacy, he should know that the Club for Growth PAC will make sure that Republican primary voters thoroughly examine his exceptionally poor record of raising taxes and spending as governor,” David McIntosh, Club for Growth president, said in a press release. “In a year in which GOP voters appear likely to have several good pro-economic growth candidates to choose from, Mike Huckabee’s big government record would stand out from the crowd, and not in a good way.”

Mr. Huckabee left his lucrative gig at Fox News over the weekend to explore the possibility of running for the 2016 GOP nomination.

The 59-year-old former Baptist minister placed second in 2008 to Arizona Sen. John McCain and would enter the race with a loyal following from born-again and evangelical Christians.

In an exclusive interview Sunday with The Washington Times, Mr. Huckabee  said he wants to raise upwards of $50 million by early February before he decides whether to jump into the race.

The Club for Growth and Mr. Huckabee have a long history of knocking heads over his record as governor of Arkansas, where he served from 1997 to 2007. The libertarian-leaning Cato Institute also has criticized Mr. Huckabee’s resume.

During the 2008 presidential race, the Club for Growth called Mr. Huckabee “a tax and spend liberal Arkansas governor.” Mr. Huckabee has hammered the group on numerous occasions, calling it the “Club for Greed.”

“I kind of have a standing philosophy: if the Club for Growth hates you, I like you,” he told Politico in 2013.

In Monday’s press release, the Club for Growth said that during his time in office Mr. Huckabee raised sales taxes, backed an Internet sales tax and also supported higher taxes on groceries and gasoline. They also said he increased state spending and that he is on record opposing school vouchers and supporting limiting campaign contributions to candidates.