Huckabee and McCain share AARP stage
EmailABC News’ Bret Hovell and Kevin Chupka Report: Two presidential candidates, vying for the nomination of the same party, shared a battleground-state stage Thursday not as rivals, but as friends and colleagues, leaving behind the personal attacks and snappy one-liners that have characterized much of this cycle’s race for the White House.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and Arizona Senator John McCain came together in Sioux City, IA, to discuss issues of healthcare and social security at a forum sponsored by the AARP.
Absent from the conversation were the other six candidates for the Republican nomination, all of whom turned down the AARP’s invitation. Huckabee and McCain were scheduled to take thirty-five minutes each to discuss their views and answer questions from the audience, but McCain proposed the idea of sharing the stage together, which Huckabee accepted.
“Frankly I regret that the other candidates for president of the United States in the Republican Party are not here tonight,” McCain said.
Added Huckabee, “Senator I don’t know about you, but I think there’s enough for people to choose from, just the two of us, let’s just keep it this way.”
The atmosphere throughout was convivial. Huckabee, during his opening remarks said that the two would engage in a thoughtful discussion, and not resort to sucker punches.
“I said that because I want to make sure he knows not to sucker punch me tonight,” joked the governor.
The candidates found mostly common ground on the main issues of the evening. Both expressed a desire to incentivize fitness and wellness as a way to lower healthcare costs, and to encourage doctors and insurers to focus on prevention rather than critical care. Both saw the impending bankruptcy of the Medicare and Social Security systems as urgent challenges requiring bipartisan solutions.
But it was the civil nature of the discussions that stood out.
“Clearly we’re rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, but that doesn’t in any way mean we’re enemies,” Huckabee said, speaking to reporters after the forum.
It was so friendly, the question had to be asked: Would these two men make a good Republican ticket?
“I’d be happy to have Senator McCain as my Vice President!” Huckabee quipped.
“I knew you’d say that,” McCain followed up with laughter. “I knew he’d get that line in before me!”
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This night might be much more remarkable than many would have realized. I think Governor Huckabee was right on, “I’d be happy to have Senator McCain as my Vice President!” It sounds like a winning pair, in that order! Everyone over 55, and everyone who will be, should note who cared enough to be there (and who did not). These two experienced men could lead our whole country to unity, with honor!
Posted by: Steve LeCrone | October 26, 2007, 12:49 am 12:49 am
Huckabee/McCain ticket?? Sounds feasible to me. They have a pretty good record of positive leadership rather than negative politicking. It’s about time we get some real statesmen to vote for!
GO HUCKABEE!!!
Posted by: JoplinJimmy | October 26, 2007, 12:54 am 12:54 am
Huckabee/McCain. This is the winning ticket!Great leadership.
Posted by: Greg | October 26, 2007, 12:59 am 12:59 am
Thats funny. Earlier this evening I had a debate with McCain supporters for College Republicans, and the over-all tone was convivial as well. They actually praised Huckabee more than we did…I think Huckabee/McCain would be a winning tickit…
Posted by: Daniel | October 26, 2007, 1:41 am 1:41 am
Sounds like a good time for the people of Iowa to see that Huckabee and McCain are two of the candidates that care most about the average American.
My preference between the two is Huckabee because of his abililty to communicate with the American people.
Posted by: Robert | October 26, 2007, 2:02 am 2:02 am
I don’t support either of them since they are both war mongers and support the illegal invasion and the murder of a million Iraq civilians including women and children.
However, at least they are honest and don’t keep changing their beliefs for the crowd they are speaking to. Of the two, McCain is better because, unlike Huckabee, he doesn’t believe in torture.
Posted by: DCWornock | October 26, 2007, 4:13 am 4:13 am
It was a good discussion and Huckabee/McCain would be a good ticket, but I prefer Huckabee/J.C. Watts.
Posted by: Ken | October 26, 2007, 7:15 am 7:15 am
Come on people, Huckabee is one of the most corrupt as they come.
He was the guy that took his campaign funds to pay for furnishing his house. He was also the guy that thinks it’s ok to send our troops to kill innocent people in Iraq so we can get a few rouges that were in Afghanistan.
For a republican, he sure likes to tax-hike.
Posted by: Tim | October 26, 2007, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Wow Tim, congrats on being the forums typical liberal. How about your precious Hillary who also voted for the War in Iraq? It seems that has gotten lost in the media.
Huckabee is an excellent leaders who can restore hope, freedom, and energy independence to our country. McCain is a heroic soldier who will defend our troops to the end. Why is this NOT the ticket for Republicans?
Posted by: Ryan | October 26, 2007, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Tim,
I looked at those links you put up and they are nothing but opinion and conjecture. There is not one NOT 1 piece of evidence to substantiate any of those handful of claims against the former Gov. Like any public official you can always find something about anyone. No one is perfect but in the race for the White House, this cycle, there is none so qualified and none so RIGHT for the job as Huckabee.
And before you pass this off as another Christian Right Wacko, I am a third generation Jewish Citizen. I simply like what he stands for.
Posted by: Marc Wienner | October 26, 2007, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Mike had me at “Fair Tax”, as I have been a supporter of that effort since before Neil Boortz mentioned it. There is no other proposed legislative change to America that comes close to the Fair Tax. It is to prosperity and freedom what Hillary-care is to oppression and socialism.
Posted by: Eric Worthington | October 26, 2007, 11:04 am 11:04 am
I am so encouraged by the prospect of a Huckabee/McCain ticket. My prayer is that God will give us mercy at the voting polls and not justice. Because of the way we have turned our backs on God, we probably deserve Hilliary or some such lying liberal, but i just pray for mercy. If God will give us mercy then Huckabee could be our next president.
Posted by: Betty Jobbins | October 26, 2007, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
I think Huckabee/McCain ticket sounds great. Why can’t the congress put back the social security money that the democrats took and put in the general fund. They could replace the money + interest. Sounds fair to me.
Posted by: SHARON MILLER | October 26, 2007, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
I believe Governor Huckabee holds true to the most conservative views of the Republican Party of any of the candidates. He has a record as Governor that can be analyzed, he has been interviewed a number of times and is on the record on all of the major issues confronting America today. The problem is that the President must work with Congress to truly get anything accomplished and with this polarized environment and “gotcha” political mentality our future is bleak.
Posted by: Concerned Patriot | October 26, 2007, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
I am so encouraged by the prospect of a Huckabee/McCain ticket. My prayer is that God will give us mercy at the voting polls and not justice. Because of the way we have turned our backs on God, we probably deserve Hilliary or some such lying liberal, but i just pray for mercy. If God will give us mercy then Huckabee could be our next president.”Dear God, Have Mercy on us!”
Posted by: Betty Jobbins | October 26, 2007, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
To Tim,
I believe Mike Huckabee and his wife Janet registered at TARGET for furnishings for their housewarming. Gee, I’m nothing and I would have registered at Dillards.
Posted by: Vicki Wood | October 26, 2007, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
I LIKE MIKE!!! Mike Huckabee is one of the few, if only honest men/or woman running on either ticket. He did a great job as Governor of Arkansas and was re-elected in a landslide in a traditionally Democrat state. The more Americans get to know him, the more they like him!!! They will easily see through the liberal smear machine and their “politics of personal destruction.” As a citizen of the Volunteer State, I wish he were my governor instead of the carpetbagger we have (Phil Bredeson)!!! A Huckabee/McCain ticket would be a winning ticket!!!
Posted by: Nate | October 26, 2007, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
Tim,
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…A time to love, and a time to hate; A TIME OF WAR, and a time of peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2, 8 Holy Bible KJV
Posted by: Nate | October 26, 2007, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
The “Fair Tax” is very fair to the rich, but not so fair to the poor. In order to be revenue neutral, it’s super optimistic assumptions would have to come true. Huck and Cain are losers in the race for the Republican nomination.
Posted by: Alaska | October 26, 2007, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
As soon as the Florida debate was over my immediate thought was a McCain/Huckabee ticket. The two compliment each other very well, McCain with his extensive foreign policy experience and Huckabee with his conservative Christian perspective and executive experience. I would prefer Huckabee/McCain, but would take it the other way if need be. Other way I think it would be a win/win situation for the American people.
The Republican party needs to end up with a ticket that can defeat Hillary which won’t be any small task.
Posted by: A. J. Clark | October 26, 2007, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
I LIKE MIKE, HUCKABEE/MCCAIN IS A WINNER I LIKE THE FAIR TAX BECAUSE IT MAKES THE CHINESE AND OTHER FOREGNERS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAX ON GOODS SOLD AT OUR STORES INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM A FREE RIDE AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR WORKERS, THINK ABOUT IT THEIR PRODUCTS ARE TAXED AT 21% SAME AS THE AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. WHY SHOULD WE PAY ALL OF THE TAXES. YOU GET A 100% OF YOUR PAY CHECK AND FREE TO BUY THE PRODUCT YOU WANT ALL TAXED AT THE SAME RATE. THIS PUTS US ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
Posted by: leon | October 27, 2007, 12:08 am 12:08 am
I’ve been watching and learning. The tax system we have is a mess. I for one have no problem giving to things that are good. I would give to pay down the national debt IF they would stop going into debt.
So far, I am appalled that people have been taken with Romney and although their are aspects and positions some of the candidates have that I side with. So far, Huckabee is the best choice.
I want the best for my country. I was doubtful about Bush. I remember all the attacks accusing him of cowardice. I also remember him throwing the first pitch in Yankee Stadium after 9/11 knowing he was the terrorists #1 target. I will listen and watch and gradually increase my support for the candidate that seems like they would be best for the nation. To this point it is Huckabee.
Posted by: Robert | October 27, 2007, 10:36 am 10:36 am
At last a combo that will be right for our country, HUCKABEE/McCAIN !!!!!!!
Posted by: John | October 27, 2007, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
Re: The October 26 comment by DCWornock indicating that Huckabee believes in torture and that Huckabee and McCain are warmongers. Where do the left wing Dems get this kind of stuff? Come on folks stop reading the ultra left wing blogs, listen to the candidates, do some research (voting records), and think for yourselves before you write such nonsense. I guarantee that you’ll never find anything in Mike Huckabee’s record to show that he believs in torture–that’s absurd.
Posted by: Anne Ford | November 7, 2007, 11:49 am 11:49 am
I’ve been excited about a possible Huckabee/McCain ticket for weeks now. It is definitely a winner!
Sadly, the reason this is not materializing is because people who are excited about Mike Huckabee simply aren’t donating exciting amounts of money to his campaign.
Posted by: Matt | November 10, 2007, 12:38 am 12:38 am
Would be a refreshing ticket…..Gov H with leadership experience and a true passion to heal our land and Sen McCain with a good balance of military and Wash DC service.
This pair could beat the Dems.
Posted by: Chris | November 20, 2007, 12:39 am 12:39 am
This was the beginning of the Republican ticket. Two men, both with the highest integrity, character, each has a history of being able to work across party lines to get things done and to look for answers to problems not so much Republican or Democrat. Huck is outside Washington to McCain’s inside experience. McCain is a maverick and so is Huckabee in a way…. Both will stand up for the things they strongly believe in. We couldn’t have a better team….
Posted by: Crystan | June 3, 2008, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm