Huckabee: ‘When It Comes Down To It, I Will Be The Nominee’

ABC News’ Brandon Odoi Reports: In a taped interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., boldly proclaimed that he would be his party’s nominee when it convenes in St. Paul, Minnesota in September of next year. 

The statement was made during an interview in the network’s D.C. based, "Situation Room" on Friday afternoon where the former Arkansas governor was asked about several of his fellow Republican challengers and then Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"I would probably go into [the general election] with a better understanding of Hillary than any other candidate," he said.  "That’s why I feel when it comes down to it, I will be the nominee." 

Despite his confidence, the former governor offered no explicit reasons why his familiarity with the Democratic presidential front runner would translate into earning the Republican nomination. 

Even still, his comments seem to suggest that Republicans might want to choose a candidate that can beat Clinton in the general election.

Concerning other Republican presidential candidates, Huckabee was colorful in his descriptions of their policies and the questions he might pose should he be looking to make any one of them his running mate. 

When asked if he would consider Rudy Giuliani for that post, Huckabee paused before saying "I would consider any Republican, but there would have to be a connection," implying that some of the governor’s conservative views might not be shared by the former New York City mayor. 

Huckabee also said that he would ask Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., about the McCain-Feingold legislation he drafted, which had "caused more problems than it’s solved." 

He used those comments to criticize the fundraising loopholes that allow senators to transfer funds raised in those offices to presidential races. 

When asked about Mitt Romney, Huckabee said that he would ask questions about his positions on abortion and gun control, inquiring whether they are long held views are those recently adopted in favor of a conservative tag. 

His appearance on CNN was one of several media stops during a two-day stint in Washington where Huckabee looks to increase notoriety and pick up more campaign cash as the March 31st fundraising deadline approaches.