Ex-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Opens Little Rock Campaign Headquarters

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, supposedly wanting to go to Washington but to not be "of it," announced Wednesday that he was opening his national campaign headquarters in Little Rock, the state capitol of Arkansas. This is the capitol he first came to but wasn't going to be "of it."

"This is home," Huckabee told those gathered for the news conference at his downtown offices. "It's where not only my roots are, it's where my values were formed, it's part of who I am and what is important to me, but it's also where all of my political life has been led."

Huckabee served as lieutenant governor from 1993 to 1996 and as governor for the past 10 years. He was prevented from seeking re-election because of term limits. Prior to entering politics, Mike Huckabee was ordained minister. He also grew up in Hope, Arkansas the hometown of President Clinton. Huckabee was pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Arkadelphia, Texarkana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was President of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1989 to 1991, and also served as President of a religious-oriented television station.

Could it be that he is trying to follow the path blazed by Arkansas First Son? If so, the Reverend Guv has some big shoes to fill. Polls show that the former Arkansas governor and ex-President is still one of the most popular figures throughout the world.

Mike Huckabees new headquarters are located at 124 W. Capitol St., Suite 1200, in the One Union West Capitol Building.

According to Chip Saltsman, who serves as Huckabee's campaign manager, the presidential exploratory committee currently has a staff of six paid individuals at the headquarters. It is expected that this number will grow as The election season progresses and if the campaign picks up steam.
Although the staff is assisted by volunteers, it is not known how many have volunteered.

Huckabee said it did not bother him that most pundits classify him as a second-tier candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008 and not a front-runner.

"There will be some people who are in the front now who won't finish," he said. "If you'd asked a year ago, 'Who are the front-runners?' a very different set of names would be mentioned off the lips of any political pundit than are being mentioned today," he said.

Huckabee has established "great leadership teams" in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina during visits to those states. After recent trips to the Midwest and East Coast, Huckabee has stated that a trip to Florida was next on his agenda.