(SPRINGFIELD, Mo.) First it was Mel Hancock. Next it was Missouri Right to Life. Now it’s Mike Huckabee.
Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced his endorsement of Billy Long, a springfield Auctioneer, in the Repbulican primary to fill outgoing Roy Blunt’s 7th district U.S. House seat.
Long, who has racked up the endorsements in recent weeks, is in a close primary with State Senators Jack Goodman (Mt. Vernon) and Gary Nodler (Joplin).
“Billy is a small business owner, not a politician. He will bring a fresh, commonsense perspective to Congress,” said Huckabee. “As a small business owner he understands what it means to meet a payroll and we need more people in Washington who have actually signed the front of a paycheck, not just the back of one.”
Huckabee also said Long was the most pro life, continuing the pro-life push the Long campaign wanted after the Missouri Right to Life endorsement. Huckabee called long a”warrior for the pro-life cause.”
Huckabee won all of southwest Missouri during the primary in 2008, pulling over 40% of the vote in every 7th district county. An official with another campaign said, “I don’t see it as a game changer. I don’t know how many undecideds are left with three weeks to play.”
Republican insiders say Jeff Roe, a former Huckabee official who is now doing strategy for Long’s campaign, may have much to do with this endorsement. “[Long]‘s playing inside politics,” one told TFJ.
The former Arkansas Governor also has announced his support of 7th district Congressman Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate.
Huckabee took 32% of the votes in the Repbulican Presidential primary in February of 2008. However, he lost to Sen. John McCain statewide
On Blunt, Huckabee said, “While many in DC have forgotten, or worse, disregarded the desires of their constituents, Roy has held firmly to his conservative values and those of Missourians – working tirelessly as an active legislator to get things done for his constituents.” Huckabee continued,”Roy isn’t just one of the good ones . . .he’s one of the great ones.”
He said Blunt see’s the U.S. Senate race as a “battle against the far left and their liberal agenda.” Huckabee says Blunt is one who would work with both sies of the isle, “using his ability to find common ground without compromising his values.”
Huckabee has not yet announced any plans to visit the area in support of either of the two candidates.
