Mike Huckabee made an appearance at Orlando's First Baptist Church yesterday morning. Rev. David Uth told the congregation about serving as a minister in Arkansas at the same time as Huckabee, and their ongoing friendship. While the candidate didn't give any speeches, he asked the 14,000-member congregation to pray for him, and cited several passages of scripture. The church's prayer asked for God to "form a hedge of protection" around him and put their brother in the position of leadership through God's will.
Uth emphasized that all the candidates had been invited to the church and that Huckabee's appearance should not be construed as an endorsement. But it's pretty clear here that Huckabee has the backing of pretty much all the major evangelical leaders in the state. His candidacy has been supported by, among many others, Matthew Staver, head of the Liberty Council; Jay Strack, an Orlando minister and motivational speaker; Steve Strang, publisher of Charisma and a host of other Christian magazines; Joel Hunter, pastor of the 12,000-member Northland Church; and John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, which is affiliated with Focus on the Family. And last week, Huckbee met with 20 leaders from large churches from across the the state to talk about his candidacy, according to the leader of one megachurch here. There are also several different voter guides circulating the state that paint Huckabee as the only candidate with a passing grade on all their issues.
At least 30 percent of Florida voters identify as "part of the conservative Christian political movement," and though Huckabee is trailing in the polls here, were all these people to vote tomorrow, he still stands a chance of performing impressively. The rumor here in Florida is that while he isn't likely to win, a second- or third-place finish might help demonstrate that he has the kind of support that might make him a good vice presidential pick for someone like John McCain.
--Kate Sheppard
