Huckabee Draws Big Crowd in Tyler

TYLER � Former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee draws a crowd estimated at 400 to 500 for a Sunday afternoon book signing, sponsored by KTBB, at Hastings on South Broadway in Tyler. Greeting guests who began gathering as early as 9 a.m., Huckabee signed copies of his new book �A Simple Government.� Chatting with the media afterwards, Huckabee said he was “incredibly impressed” with the turnout. He also addressed topics such as his own prospects for a 2012 presidential run and President Obama’s chances for re-election.

Huckabee said his current book tour could be a precursor to another presidential run — and that he’s looking for reaction to the book. According to Huckabee, “The book is in essence kind of where I stand, what I believe, and I think as people read it, they’ll have an impression on whether or not if I were to run, that they would believe that this is where America needs to go.”

Huckabee says President Obama will still be a formidable foe in 2012. He pointed out that incumbents are hard to defeat, adding, “I think that it is possible to defeat him — and I hope, frankly, that someone does, me or someone else — but it’s not gonna be easy.” Huckabee cited significant differences with the Obama administration on foreign policy. He remarked, “The traditional policy of America was, ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick.’ I think the Obama policy is, ‘Make apologies and throw away the stick.'” Huckabee said America’s losing the respect it once had in the rest of the world. He also came out strongly in support of Israel, saying the U.S has “an organic relationship” with that country.

On another topic, Huckabee said he has a lot of confidence in the new GOP majority in the U.S. House. He commented, “I look at the 87 freshmen, and I just believe that there’s an extraordinary number of them that have gone there to actually cut spending and reduce the deficit.”

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3HCQzvtx5o to see video from the book signing.