Why is Huckabee even running?

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Yeah we know he and Romney were tied for 2nd place in 2008, gathering evangelicals to rally around him, this time it looks like Cruz and Carson are taking the evangelical vote. Huckabee can't rely on evangelicals alone to win the nomination as the percentage of evangelicals in the GOP is declining every primary cycle. He is way too conservative socially and I would go on to say somewhat liberal on fiscal/economic issues (with the exception of the flat tax which could be attributed to a far-right position).

He had his shot in 2012 and blew it when he didn't run, I am bold enough to say I think he is honestly either running for a VP or cabinet spot. What do you guys think?

When he entered the race in early may, his polling average was around 10% which was ok for him, then it dropped to where we are now, at 3%, I don't see him going anywhere unless he pulls off a miracle in Iowa or South Carolina.

[Lyin' Steve]

Just like Rand and many of the other candidates still running, he had promising numbers and a good start, and then dwindled down to oblivion once the public got bored of him.  It wasn't unreasonable of him to run, and he's staying in due to hope and friction.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Just like Rand and many of the other candidates still running, he had promising numbers and a good start, and then dwindled down to oblivion once the public got bored of him.  It wasn't unreasonable of him to run, and he's staying in due to hope and friction.

If Cruz or Carson weren't in the race he'd be doing better but as the way the dynamics are setting up as they usually do, it looks to be coming down to a 4-way race between Cruz, Carson, Rubio and Trump.

[Broken System]

He ran his show for a few years to gather support. He's definitely in it to win it. Fiorina, Christie, Bush, Graham, Kasich, Paul, and Rubio are all fighting for votes based on voters who are either moderate or lean conservative. This year, the 4 people many see as strongly conservative are Jindal, Cruz, Santorum, and Huckabee. With Jindal out and Santorum's support currently negligible, Huckabee still has the chance to act as a fallback for conservatives, especially if conservatives bail on Cruz for being too extreme. Huckabee's biggest problem so far on the campaign has been the outsiders. Trump and Carson are siphoning huge percentages of the vote from every demographic, including a substantial amount of strong conservatives. Without them running, he would still have a large portion of his base. If Cruz, Trump, or Carson lose even just a bit support, Huckabee has the potential to become the fifth place candidate. Huckabee will stay in until Arkansas because that's his best shot at winning. If he can win that state, he can establish himself as a viable candidate. Very unlikely, but still possible.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

He ran his show for a few years to gather support. He's definitely in it to win it. Fiorina, Christie, Bush, Graham, Kasich, Paul, and Rubio are all fighting for votes based on voters who are either moderate or lean conservative. This year, the 4 people many see as strongly conservative are Jindal, Cruz, Santorum, and Huckabee. With Jindal out and Santorum's support currently negligible, Huckabee still has the chance to act as a fallback for conservatives, especially if conservatives bail on Cruz for being too extreme. Huckabee's biggest problem so far on the campaign has been the outsiders. Trump and Carson are siphoning huge percentages of the vote from every demographic, including a substantial amount of strong conservatives. Without them running, he would still have a large portion of his base. If Cruz, Trump, or Carson lose even just a bit support, Huckabee has the potential to become the fifth place candidate. Huckabee will stay in until Arkansas because that's his best shot at winning. If he can win that state, he can establish himself as a viable candidate. Very unlikely, but still possible.

I agree with the bolded aspect. While Huckabee and Cruz are both on the right of the party, Huckabee (at least in my opinion) is more moderate than Cruz is they both are too far right to win the nomination, at least in my opinion.

[HAnnA MArin County]

I think he knows he can't win but I think he's running just as one last hoorah for the Bible thumping "evangelical" crowd. As someone already mentioned on here, their influence is significantly waning and I think Huckabee is trying to exploit that fear that they are having their voices "silenced" and being "persecuted" by the "liberal securalists," hence why he is running. He's banking on the so-called "silent majority." He really brings nothing to the race except for more of the same the "sanctity of life" and "sanctity of marriage" crap is all that matters; in other terms, he's just a reminder to the GOP of the "good ole days" when women were nothing but moms and housewives and the gays had no rights.

He truly is a horrible person and I don't think Jesus appreciates him misconstruing and exploiting Christianity for political gain. 

[Murica!]

Because god wanted him to, obviously.

[Vega]

Carson is seemingly imploding, so he might get some support from him.

[wolfsblood07]

I think he knows he can't win but I think he's running just as one last hoorah for the Bible thumping "evangelical" crowd. As someone already mentioned on here, their influence is significantly waning and I think Huckabee is trying to exploit that fear that they are having their voices "silenced" and being "persecuted" by the "liberal securalists," hence why he is running. He's banking on the so-called "silent majority." He really brings nothing to the race except for more of the same the "sanctity of life" and "sanctity of marriage" crap is all that matters; in other terms, he's just a reminder to the GOP of the "good ole days" when women were nothing but moms and housewives and the gays had no rights.

He truly is a horrible person and I don't think Jesus appreciates him misconstruing and exploiting Christianity for political gain. 

Think how much better it would be if we had those old fashioned family values back!  Huckabee is a great man.  He simply believes in the traditional definition of marriage and opposes the heinous act of abortion.  Our society now embraces perversion.

[All Along The Watchtower]

It gives people a reason to talk about Mike Huckabee in 2015.

[bobloblaw]

A book deal and a TV show.

[Maxwell]

It gives people a reason to talk about Mike Huckabee in 2015.

Obviously this. I also think he's running to be Trump's VP.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Book sales, speaking fees, feeding his ego, and being in a better position to negotiate his new TV and radio deals. Everyone does remember that he left a FOX News gig to go pretend to be a candidate, right?

That the Republicans allowed him to use their primaries as his personal PR machine is damning.

[bobloblaw]

Book sales, speaking fees, feeding his ego, and being in a better position to negotiate his new TV and radio deals. Everyone does remember that he left a FOX News gig to go pretend to be a candidate, right?

That the Republicans allowed him to use their primaries as his personal PR machine is damning.

This is the problem conservatives who cheer Citizens United ddint forsee. Anyone can now raise money for a campaign.

[DemPGH]

Money, books, exposure, etc. Being a darling of the religious right is a great way to achieve all that. What he says is so completely measured to reach that crowd that it's obvious, IMO. 

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

It gives people a reason to talk about Mike Huckabee in 2015.

Obviously this. I also think he's running to be Trump's VP.

ew no. Trump/Huckabee is gross, Trump/Cruz is happenin'

[DS0816]

What does he have to lose?

[I support Sanders]

Good question. He probably could have won the nomination in 2012, but that was three years ago and evangelical influence in politics is declining. I can't imagine who would pick Huckabee as VP, since he hardly registers in the polls. If the nominee were to choose a social conservative for VP, they would probably go with Carson or Cruz before going with Huckabee, Santorum, or Jindal.

[Ticket2016]

Mike Huckabee is running for the Christian Church and little else. I love him, but I think unless he wins Iowa (that would be a miracle) he can´t win.
TED CRUZ 2016

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Money, books, exposure, etc. Being a darling of the religious right is a great way to achieve all that. What he says is so completely measured to reach that crowd that it's obvious, IMO. 

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Book sales, speaking fees, feeding his ego, and being in a better position to negotiate his new TV and radio deals. Everyone does remember that he left a FOX News gig to go pretend to be a candidate, right?

That the Republicans allowed him to use their primaries as his personal PR machine is damning.

Out of all the candidates, you're upset about Huckabee using the GOP primary as his personal PR machine? What about Carson and Trump?