A little more speculation concerning the final slate for the GOP White House contenders may have been laid to rest in the last week after a surprise announcement by Mike Huckabee. Declaring from his years-long perch as host of his Sunday Fox News Channel show, “As much as I have loved doing the show, I cannot bring myself to rule out another Presidential run. I say goodbye, but as we say in television, stay tuned. There’s more to come.”
This new development gives rise to questions concerning whether Huckabee can compete in a wide Republican field that will almost certainly raise the stakes in terms of the fundraising dollars required to go the distance.
Ed Rollins, former Huckabee adviser explained, “You’re going to need $150 million to win the nomination, and probably $75 million to get you through Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. That means 200 to 300 fundraising events and a vast, focused apparatus. Mike didn’t have that last time, and he still has to prove he can develop one.”
Huckabee’s next step is expected to be his book tour in which he promotes his new book God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy, which looks to be a re-introduction and rebranding of the former Arkansas governor. His ability to gain traction and ultimately sufficient campaign financing will hinge on the success of that tour ahead of an official announcement.
