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Posted: December 13, 2007 5:51 PM
Duncan Hunter: Huckabee's Secretary of Defense?
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While polls show slim prospects for California Congressman Duncan Hunter’s presidency bid, speculation is circulating that if popular GOP candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee wins the presidency, he might appoint Hunter as defense chief.

“Huckabee has no military experience beyond commanding the Arkansas National Guard, but he doesn’t see this as an insuperable problem,” The National Review reported Thursday. “‘What you do,’ he explained, ‘is surround yourself with the best possibly advice.’ The only name he mentioned was Representative Duncan Hunter of California. ‘Duncan is extraordinarily well qualified to be secretary of defense,’ he said.”

Hunter himself has been polling with low results both nationally and in key early decision states, but hasn’t lost sight of his White House goals.

The congressman was recently profiled by Politico.com and talked about how 14 terms in the U.S. Congress has shaped his ideals as a citizen and politician.

“Looking to retire after 27 years on the House Armed Services Committee, including two as chairman, Rep. Duncan Hunter isn’t eager to talk about the ‘L-word.’” Politico reported. “‘I don’t care about leaving a legacy,’ the California Republican said in an interview. ‘You do the best you can for the country every day — that’s my motto.’”

Hunter will be retiring at the end of his term to focus completely on his bid for president. He recently released his health-care plan, which would “allow consumers to purchase health insurance across state lines,” said MedPage Today.

Despite promoting his health-care plan and campaigning in key states throughout the country, Hunter faces steep competition among his popular GOP rivals for camera time and media attention. The congressman participated in Wednesday’s Des Moines Register debate in Iowa but got little attention over the squabbling of front-runners Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and former diplomat Alan Keyes, a somewhat controversial addition to the debate. Still, Hunter managed to make a few key points and communicate his views.

“He emphasized his defense and border experience very well. He attacked NAFTA hard,” the Lonestar Times reported. “Interestingly, he also took a shot at Mitt Romney about Bain Capital ‘joining up with a Chinese company to purchase an American defense contractor.’”