Huckabee shakes up race for Republican nomination

By Steve Barnes

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's surge in Iowa has shaken up the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but it remains to be seen if the folksy Baptist preacher can extend his appeal beyond his populist roots.

The humorous and affable Huckabee largely went unchallenged

by rivals while seen as an unthreatening dark horse, but he has faced criticism and closer scrutiny since a jump in the polls put him within reach of Iowa front-runner Mitt Romney.

The free-market Club for Growth has blasted Huckabee's tax hikes as Arkansas governor, conservative columnist Robert Novak has labeled him a "false conservative" and his rivals have challenged him on issues like immigration.

Even voters in his home state seem to be ambivalent.

While he had approval ratings of around 55 percent his last years in office, an Arkansas poll two years ago found voters opposed him seeking the presidency 44 percent to 43 percent.

Only 8 percent of Arkansans last month said they would vote for him as president, equal to Republican rival Rudy Giuliani, but well behind Democratic leader Hillary Clinton, Arkansas' former first lady, at 35 percent, a new Arkansas poll found.

"He's good with a joke, and we need some humor in politics," said Jan Hall, 33, a Little Rock receptionist. "But I don't know if he has the experience we need. I'm scared of what the economy's going to do, and this war ... what can he do about those things?"