Huckabee Stops Attacking Romney

Posted on 1/8/2008 2:11:00 PM

Republican Mike Huckabee has rejected the advice of a leading political campaign consultant to attack rival Mitt Romney. Ed Rollins, well known as the man who successfully directed Ronald Reagan's campaign when he ran for president, advised Huckabee to launch an aggressive campaign against Romney. However, Huckabee dumped the advice within a few days.

Huckabee had earlier sworn that he would not resort to any form of negative politics, such as attacking a rival campaign. However, David Kirkpatrick of the Times writes that, "he drew an obvious contrast with his better-financed rival Mitt Romney, who battered Mr. Huckabee with critical commercials and mail." Reportedly, Rollins was not too pleased about his new client's insistence on playing fare, and had threatened to retaliate.

Kirkpatrick says that Huckabee, accepted Rollins' advice and started to criticize Romney's integrity. He even produced a new anti-Romney commercial. Soon after, however, Huckabee gave up his aggressive stance and publicly announced that he would not launch any further attacks on Romney.

Huckabee took the opportunity to quote from the Bible to support his decision, saying, “If you gain the whole world but lose your own soul, what does it profit you?” While Iowa voters applauded Huckabee's decision to refrain from using a negative campaign, Rollins said, "Sometimes the candidate makes the decision…And that is a good thing.”