Huck: Advantage Obama

WASHINGTON -- Participating this morning in the Christian Science Monitor's breakfast series, Gov. Mike Huckabee weighed in on his Democratic rivals, saying that Hillary Clinton is struggling to connect with voters because the country is looking for a candidate with a “longer vision.”

"People underestimated Barack Obama, and his capacity to inspire," Huckabee said. "I think [in] bringing a different kind of dialogue to the race, he has energized an enormous level of the electorate, not only within the Democratic Party, but I think in the general population as well."

Huckabee said Clinton is the "more focused of the two," but that voters are gravitating toward Obama as the “new and fresh” candidate.

"Voters ultimately, when they think about a leader, are not necessarily thinking about somebody who can fix the carburetor, as much as it is they want somebody who can drive the car and describe the destination as a place they want to go. That's where I think Obama has had the distinct advantage."

Huckabee said Obama is the "inspirational" candidate, but added that his inexperience could be seen as a weakness.

"Either candidate the Democrats put forth, there's going to be a clear contrast and the Republicans are going to have a message," Huckabee added. "I think this idea that it's all cooked and that it's going to be a Democrat this year is nonsense."

Huckabee also touted the "civil" campaign he and John McCain have been running for the GOP. "I would hope [this civility] bodes well for the future of politics in general, but particularly Republican politics," Huckabee told reporters. "I'd like to believe that we are proving that a civil discourse and a campaign of ideas is possible without it being a demolition derby."

In what was perhaps another subtle clue he's got his eye on the veep spot, Huckabee played nice when asked about President Bush's recent endorsement of McCain. Huckabee said it he doesn't think it was an endorsement, as the president has been "very careful not to make an endorsement." Rather, Huckabee saw Bush's remarks as being in defense of McCain and attacks against his conservative credentials.

"In that same sentence, he was very quick to say, 'And then Mike Huckabee is also a very conservative and solid guy,’" Huck noted.

One thing Huckabee made very clear is his lack of a desire to run for the Senate against Sen. Mark Pryor this year.

"There is a greater chance that I would dye my hair green and get tattoos all over my body and do a rock tour with Amy Winehouse than there is for the Senate."

(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)