GOP runner-up rates first with fans

Mike Huckabee shakes hands with Vernon Smith of Abingdon during a Friday book-signing in Bristol Virginia

By: David Mcgee | TriCities.com
Published: December 06, 2008

BRISTOL, Va. – Ten seconds.
That was the average amount of time it took former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to smile, shake hands, sign at least one copy of his new book and speak briefly Friday with each of about 500 people waiting in line at the Books-A-Million store in The Highlands retail center.
He posed for photos, thanked each for coming, apologized for the wait, wished them a Merry Christmas and received an outpouring of support and encouragement in return.
The Bristol stop was one of three scheduled Friday, amid a 57-city tour for the Fox News broadcaster and former presidential candidate who is promoting his new book, “Do the Right Thing.”
“It’s been exhilarating more than grueling,” he said after signing copies for more than an hour. “I’m refreshed by the people that I meet, just like during the campaign. This book details some of the remarkable people that I met. They represent what’s great about America.”
Diane Newell, of Bristol, Va., and her mother, Grace Shouey, of Shepherd, Mich., didn’t mind waiting in line to get his signature on several copies of the book they planned to give for Christmas gifts.
“We appreciate what he stands for, which in our society today is very important. He’s taken a stand on moral values and that’s few and far between,” Newell said.
Shouey, who was making a holiday visit, said she “enjoyed his programs.”
Both women said they hope he will make another run at the presidency.
Currently ranked fourth on the New York Times best-seller list, the book offers a look behind the scenes of Huckabee’s presidential campaign and some thoughts about issues facing the country.
“In the book, I want to try to remind people the Republican Party and the conservative movement isn’t dead,” Huckabee said. “We’re not in trouble because of conservatism, it’s because we advertised something and didn’t deliver.”
The book also projects Huckabee’s philosophy of changing the country.
“We need to get back to some common sense that is missing in government. I’m convinced there are a lot of people in Congress breathing rarefied air, that gives them a total disconnect with the rest of the world,” he said.
Fans began lining up outside the store at about 6 a.m., said Assistant General Manager Drew Chatterton.
“This is a great experience for the community and great for us,” Chatterton said while making final arrangements before Huckabee’s arrival.
Broadcaster and author Glenn Beck visited the store Nov. 21, a Friday night, drawing a crowd of about 800.
The visit was Huckabee’s third to the region this year. As a GOP presidential primary candidate, Huckabee made a campaign visit to Blountville. He returned in late October as the featured speaker at a campaign rally for GOP presidential nominee John McCain at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
On Friday, Huckabee arrived a few minutes late after his bus broke down less than a mile from the store.
Asked what happened, Huckabee said he had no idea, but “if we have to depend on me to fix it, we’ll be stranded here forever.”
dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532

GOP runner-up rates first with fans

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