Johnston, Iowa
Donald Trump is holding a campaign rally in Little Rock, Arkansas on Wednesday—an odd location for an event less than a week away from the New Hampshire primary. That stop on Trump’s itinerary has prompted some speculation that former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee may endorse Trump, but on Saturday Huckabee categorically denied that he would endorse anyone this week.
“I can rule out any possibility—I’m not endorsing anybody this week,” Huckabee told THE WEEKLY STANDARD following an event at a gun range. “I plan to be a candidate during the process. Honestly, I had nothing to do with the event in Little Rock, had no idea it was going to be until I read it in the press. And I will not be in Little Rock on Wednesday.”
When asked if he could rule out endorsing Trump at some point in the next two months, Huckabee replied, “Why would I endorse somebody if I’m running? Hey, I’m running, man.”
In stark contrast to his attacks on Texas senator Ted Cruz, Huckabee has had mostly friendly words for Trump during the campaign. When Trump boycotted the Fox News debate on Thursday and instead held a rally in Des Moines, the GOP frontrunner was joined onstage by Huckabee and Rick Santorum, the last two winners of the GOP Iowa caucus.
But a Trump endorsement could disappoint many of Huckabee’s Christian and conservative admirers. Huckabee was a Christian pastor prior to his tenure as governor, and Trump famously said that he has never asked God for forgiveness. Pro-life leaders have urged pro-life Iowans to vote for anyone but Trump.
