Razorback Huckabee Works Fla. Pig Festival

Sat, January 26, 2008 - 12:35 PM

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Huckabee this morning dropped by the Lakeland Pig Festival, east of the Tampa Bay area.

Admirers and the curious alike surrounded him as he worked the event, walking back and forth along lanes of barbecue stands, shaking hands, signing autographs, posing for photos -- and, well, eating..

At one point, the former Arkansas governor spotted a man wearing pig mask and exclaimed: “There’s a razorback!”

Another man asked the exercise and weight-conscious candidate if he planned to run today, and he said, "I need to, now."

But while energetic in greeting the festival goers, Huckabee did not make himself available for questions by the media, including about his strategy to pull back on resources in Florida, where the victor in Tuesday's winner-take-all GOP primary will come away with 57 delegates.

Aides had said he would hold a news conference at the pork event; but he instead was rushed away from the festival after about 40 minutes.

As Huckabee climbed into his van, he did answer a question about who would win Tuesday.

“Me!” he quipped.

But the polls in Florida suggest otherwise, with Huckabee lagging significantly behind co-front-runners Mitt Romney and John. McCain.

The reality is that Huckabee has limited his public appearances in the area, and had dotted much of his schedule over the next two days with appearances in other states – such as Alabama and Tennessee, which hold their contests on Feb. 5.

His campaign also announced it has launched a national TV ad today.

On hand for Huckabee’s pig festival visit was City of Lakeland Mayor Ralph L. “Buddy” Fletcher.

But when asked if he was a Huckabee supporter, Fletcher said he hasn’t endorsed anyone in the Republican primary. He said he would have shown up to accompany any of the candidates there.

“I don’t commit myself,” said Fletcher. “I just vote.”

-- Billy House