Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer said Tuesday that Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s outspoken opposition to same-sex marriage will serve as a setback in his race for the White House.
On Fox News’ “Special Report,” Krauthammer, one of the most influential media personalities in conservative politics, said Huckabee might be past his prime.
“Candidates, movements, ideas have their time and his could have been [2008],” he said, referring to Huckabee’s first failed run for president. “Remember in ’08 when he did so well and he ran his evangelical — he appealed to that constituency, [then-Democratic presidential candidate] Barack Obama said that he disapproved of gay marriage because of his religion. Think of where the country is now on that issue. Huckabee is where he was in ’08. The country has moved radically. I’m not judging whether he ought to have moved or not — I respect him for not — But it isn’t going to help him because the way that the country has changed. If he hopes that having the evangelical vote alone is going to carry him in, he has no chance.”
Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and Baptist pastor, announced his second bid for the presidency on Monday. He has long been a staunch opponent on legalizing same-sex marriage, even while some of the other GOP presidential candidates have said it is an issue best addressed on the state level.
Krauthammer, by contrast, has historically been less interested in social conservative positions, having urged Republicans in the past to compromise on hot-button issues such as abortion.
In February, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is running for president, introduced a bill that would allow states to define marriage without federal intervention.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, another 2016 contender, has also said that “as attitudes change,” states are within their right to adopt new laws on marriage.
Krauthammer is a fan of Rubio, calling him “Kennedy-esque.”
But like many conservatives, Krauthammer seems most deeply stirred by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is widely expected to enter the race at or near the front of the roster.
“[Walker] has the attributes you’d want for this kind of race,” Krauthammer said in February. “He has appeal to the Tea Party. He has appeal to the more establishment Republicans. We’re not talking about a senator, we’re not talking about somebody who makes speeches. He’s been a governor.”
Walker has been vague on his opinions about same-sex marriage in terms of the law, but according to the Journal Sentinel, a Wisconsin newspaper, he has stated that he believes marriage is between a man and woman.
In 2008, support for legalizing same-sex marriage was at 42 percent, according to Gallup. In 2014, it was up to 55 percent.
Krauthammer did not respond to a request for comment.
