Home turf not rock solid for Huckabee

Some in state GOP question his fiscal conservatism, depth of his campaign coffers

By Daniel Nasaw

LITTLE ROCK — As his loyal supporters chatted and dipped into a lavish spread of hors d'oeuvres Tuesday evening, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee worked the crowd, occasionally ducking into a small room for private chats with favored boosters.

The scene: A $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser at the Texarkana home of former state Rep. David Haak. Huckabee greeted old friends, told jokes, talked about his running regimen and the Razorbacks, and luxuriatedin praise from some of his core supporters.

"He just has all of the ideals and values that I believe in and that most U.S. citizens and most Arkansans believe in," said Prissy Hickerson, whom Huckabee appointed to the state Highway Commission in 1996.

But as his campaign continues the long slog to the state's Feb. 5 primary, it has become clear Huckabee can't count on rock-solid Republican support. Privately, some Republicans in central and northwestern Arkansas question his commitment to what they say are the bedrock principles of fiscal conservatism.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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