Washington, D.C.-

As the former embedded FNC producer with the Huckabee campaign, it might be a little strange for me running into him in the hallways, or at the Fox News Christmas party, now that former GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee has joined Fox News Channel as a contributor. Here is his statement:

 ”I have signed on to be a part of the Fox News Channel family. I hope to bring the unique perspective from “inside the dragon’s belly” as well as to try and speak for the millions of hard-working middle class Americans who really do feel that their voices are not being heard. I saw that on the campaign trail and continue to see as I speak to groups of all kinds around the country as well as campaign for other candidates.

I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a very satisfying relationship not only for the Fox News Channel and me, but even more for the people of America.”

 

 

And from our media relations department:

MIKE HUCKABEE JOINS FOX NEWS CHANNEL

Former Governor of Arkansas and 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee has joined FOX News Channel (FNC) as a contributor, announced Bill Shine, Senior Vice President of Programming.  Huckabee will regularly contribute to FNC’s America’s Election HQ coverage.

In making the announcement, Shine said, “Governor Huckabee’s campaign experience and knowledge of politics makes him a great addition to our ongoing election coverage.”

 

During the North Carolina GOP breakfast yesterday,Mike Huckabee, the keynote speaker at the state convention,  was sitting next to Robert Pittenger, a candidate for NC Lt. governor, when Pittenger started choking.

Huckabee noticed Pittenger couldn’t breathe, and then, a few moments later, gave him the Heimlich maneuver in order to dislodge the food and save the man’s life, according to Huckabee insiders.

“I’m glad that Mike was in the right place at the right time and continued to lead by example,” former South Carolina lt. gov. candidate ,and Huckabee SC chairman Mike Campbell tells Fox. “We all know that Huckabee is pro-life, and once again he has lived up to it.”

 Pittenger suffers from acid reflux,which he blamed as the reason behind the incident, the Palmetto Scoop reported. Huckabee learned the Heimlich maneuver when he was trained as an EMT during his college years.

 

 

John McCain called Mike Huckabee Thursday night to congratulate him for his upset victory in the Iowa caucuses.

McCain spoke to reporters and supporters in Manchester, NH as the caucus results become clear.
done

McCain didn’t mention Mitt Romney by name last night. But the Senator has previously criticized Romney for running aggressive and misleading attack ads targeting Huckabee in Iowa and McCain in New Hampshire.

Romney’s defeat in Iowa could weaken him in New Hampshire, where Romney and McCain are running neck and neck.

Manchester, NH

Romney just shook hands and greeted voters at a small bbq restaurant today. There was more media than voters packed into the tiny family joint. He ordered the smoked chicken platter, cole slaw, and beans and paid his 10.26 tab with a twenty dollar bill and then left some money in the tip jar.

The Bulgarian owners of City Flame Smokehouse moved to Memphis to learn southern B-B-Q and then moved to Manchester to open the family place.
The New Hampshire frontrunner commented that he was here yesterday and how much he liked the food at the restaurant.

One voter asked Romney about his views on capping trade like Mike Huckabee. Romney responded, “I support it on a global basis, as one of the possible solutions, but I don’t support it for the U.S.A. alone. I want to do it with other nations.”

Romney continues campaigning in New Hampshire today and then travels to Iowa for a campaign bus tour in the first caucus state.

**UPDATE**

The Romney campaign says that the governor misheard the voter’s questions and believed he was being ask about carbon caps. The answer he gave was in response to what he believed was a question on carbon caps, not limiting trade.