Huckabee for Senate?
Phil Kerpen at NRO urges Mike Huckabee to give up his presidential run and file for the U.S. Senate race in Arkansas (the deadline for doing so is March 10). It won't happen; in fact Huckabee says he's more likely to "get tattooed and go out on the town with Amy Winehouse.” Presumably, Huck plans to use the next four years to consolidate his status as a party powerhouse, while collecting substantial speaking fees. Nor is it clear that Huckabee could defeat popular incumbent Mark Pryor, who currently has no Republican opposition, according to Kerpen.
A successful Senate run might be just what Huckabee needs, however. As a Senator, he could increase his working knowledge on a broad range of issues and (if he were so inclined) establish a voting record that would allay fears that he's not really very conservative except on social issues.
It's difficult to see Huckabee shedding his outsider status without gaining elective office. And, though Huckabee has made good use of that status, Republicans have rarely been inclined to nominate complete outsiders.
