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Posted: February 8, 2008 2:43 PM
Huckabee Gains Dobson's Endorsement, Seeks Romney Supporters
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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee welcomed the endorsement of evangelical Christian leader James Dobson, who made his announcement Thursday night after former Gov. Mitt Romney’s exit from the presidential race.

After Arizona Sen. John McCain surged ahead of the Republican pack on Super Tuesday, Dobson told reporters he could not “in good conscience vote for John McCain, the front-runner, because of concerns over the Arizona senator’s conservative credentials,” the Associated Press reported.

“The remaining candidate for whom I could vote is Governor Huckabee,” Dobson said in a statement obtained by the AP. “His unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others.”

Earlier in the race, Dobson made more news with his anti-endorsements than with supportive comments, raging against former candidates Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson.

“Giuliani’s sin is his support of abortion. Thompson’s is his opposition to a constitutional amendment regarding marriage,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Huckabee is hoping for more former Romney fans to follow Dobson in throwing their support behind him rather than McCain.

“As a true authentic, consistent conservative, I have a vision to bring hope, opportunity and prosperity to all Americans, and I’d like to ask for and welcome the support of those who had previously been committed to Mitt,” he said, according to CNN.

The former Baptist minister has long had the support of many Southerners and evangelicals. On Saturday, he faces critical contests in the Louisiana and Washington state primaries and the Kansas Republican caucuses.

In Washington state, “social conservatives have a history of packing the GOP caucuses, which could boost Huckabee. But with McCain now a shoo-in, some who would normally vote in the Republican race might be drawn to the higher-stakes Democratic contest,” the Associated Press reported. “Washington voters don’t register by party.”

The former governor spent Friday campaigning in throughout Kansas, stopping in Kansas City and Topeka, among other cities. His wife, Janet, is making stops Friday and Saturday throughout Washington.