Party chair, social conservatives back Huckabee in Minnesota

In an unusual move, Ron Carey announced his personal endorsement. Meanwhile, some of Minnesota's Christian conservatives are getting behind Huckabee.

By PAT DOYLE, Star Tribune

Last update: January 7, 2008 - 9:47 PM

Minnesota Republican chairman Ron Carey endorsed Mike Huckabee for president Monday, citing the passion behind the former Arkansas governor's Iowa victory as a sign that he could galvanize the GOP in Minnesota and elsewhere.

"We need to find the same kind of energy and enthusiasm," Carey said. "I believe Mike Huckabee is the best of the best."

An endorsement by a state party leader so early in a presidential contest is unusual, and Carey emphasized that his support is personal and that he would not use the party apparatus to help Huckabee.

But one leading state GOP activist was quick to criticize the endorsement.

The announcement at the State Capitol also signals that Huckabee will enjoy considerable support in Minnesota from religious conservatives, who were instrumental in his victory in Iowa. Joining Carey for the announcement was Gary Borgendale, a former pastor-network coordinator for Minnesota for Marriage, which pushed unsuccessfully in recent years for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Borgendale said that evangelicals would spread support for Huckabee by e-mail and through websites and that ministers could give personal endorsements outside the pulpit.

Borgendale said he met Huckabee in Des Moines.

"I got very interested in his faith and family values, his strong pro-life position and his strong position on marriage between one man and one woman," Borgendale said. "More and more I began to like what he stood for."

The Carey endorsement puts two of the top state Republicans at odds over their picks for president. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain and joined him occasionally on the campaign trail.

Win fuels Minnesota backing

Huckabee has received few contributions from Minnesotans and had no organized support in the state before his Iowa victory last week. His supporters have been scrambling in recent days to create a higher profile.

Among those who have joined his Minnesota team is Peter Hong, a spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004 and former press secretary for Minnesota Sen. Rod Grams; Duane Benson, executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership; and the Rev. David Watkins, a leader of the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators.

Despite Carey's announcement, there is no commitment from the Huckabee campaign to visit Minnesota between now and the Feb. 5 caucuses. Twenty-two states will hold caucuses or primaries on that date, many of them larger and more critical than Minnesota.

Ruffling a few feathers

Carey acknowledged that his endorsement of a candidate would be controversial among some Minnesota GOP activists who believe he shouldn't take a stand so early in the race.

Quick to fulfill that expectation was Brian Sullivan, a businessman and Republican National Committee member who is supporting Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"Traditionally, the chairman doesn't endorse particular candidates because his job as head of the party is to help all Republicans win and essentially not introduce a bias for one candidate over another," Sullivan said.

"It's hard to disassociate what he wants to do personally from what his official capacity is," Sullivan said. "I don't think that that's possible."

But Carey said party bylaws allow officers to endorse presidential candidates, adding that two lower-ranking state officers have endorsed other presidential candidates.

On the issues, Carey cited Huckabee's support for the so-called "fair tax," a national sales tax that would replace income and other taxes.

But his support seemed to stem as much from Huckabee's campaign style as his substance.

"The success and the enthusiasm he generated in Iowa can easily be replicated in Minnesota," Carey said. "I think it can enhance the chance that Republicans will be successful in November of 2008 in Minnesota."

And Huckabee came in a surprise 2nd place finish in the Minnesota Caucuses.

And Huckabee came in a surprise 2nd place finish in the Minnesota Caucuses.