Gains endorsement of 50 African American leaders
From CBS News’ Joy Lin:
Criticized for failing to develop support http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3021, Mike Huckabee has made a concerted effort to reach out to minorities. He gained the endorsement of 50 African American leaders while in town for the commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The endorsers cited Huckabee’s record on life, education, minorities, the economy, the prison system, and immigration as Arkansas governor.
Dean Nelson, director of the Network of Politically Active Christians, noted that Huckabee was the only Republican frontrunner who made a showing at the GOP debate hosted by Tavis Smiley in September. “I would like to declare to those frontrunners who did not participate at that debate, that if you believe that America and Americans should trust you, then why did you not show up?” asked Nelson.
Nelson noted Huckabee appointed over 350 to boards and commissions as governor of Arkansas.
At the endorsement, Huckabee talked about African-American issues in the language of a Republican. He brought up government surveillance of Dr. King as a cautionary tale against government invasiveness. Huckabee also addressed education and the prison system in terms of cost efficiency.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/21/politics/fromtheroad/entry3735143.shtml