Mike Huckabee’s political action committee, Huck PAC was busy yesterday issuing several endorsements of candidates in Iowa.
Caffeinated Thoughts already shared Brenna Findley’s campaign press release of his endorsement of her candidacy for Attorney General. That was only one of several endorsements yesterday. He is also endorsing State Senator Brad Zaun in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race in his attempt to unseat incumbent Congressman Leonard Boswell. He also endorsed incumbent Congressman Tom Latham in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District race and Congressman Steve King in Iowa’s 5th Congressional District race. He even endorsed in a State Senate race, endorsing State Representative Kent Sorenson of Indianola in his bid to defeat incumbent State Senator Staci Appel in Iowa Senate District 37.
Interesting to note who’s left in the cold in the endorsement frenzy – former Governor Terry Branstad, Marianette Miller-Meeks in the Iowa 2nd Congressional District race, Ben Lange in the Iowa 1st District race, and Senator Chuck Grassley. It isn’t surprising that there is no Branstad endorsement since he endorsed Bob Vander Plaats. Miller-Meeks still has issues with pro-lifers and was not endorsed in her 2008 bid by Iowa Right to Life. Ben Lange says very little (actually noting on his website) about social issues. As far as Senator Grassley, perhaps he’s upset with some of his votes in his last term or more likely realizes that his resources are needed elsewhere since Grassley’s seat is safe. (Update: or as a third option as was pointed out to me in the comment section, Huckabee endorsed him months ago and I missed it).
What is clear to me, with his leading the most recent Iowa Caucus poll, is that he’s running in 2012 (color me shocked if he doesn’t) and that he’ll be the favorite rather than the underdog this time around.