This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 1, 2011 - Ann Wagner, a candidate for the GOP nomination for the 2nd congressional district, today announced the endorsement of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
"Huck PAC and I are pleased to endorse Ann Wagner for the U.S. Congress from Missouri District 2," read Huckabee's statement. "Ann Wagner is a strong supporter of the conservative social issues that are important to us like the sanctity of life, and the preservation of marriage between one man and one woman. Ann is against all of the bailouts and the government picking winners and losers. She believes the government needs to stop interfering, and that's why she supports the FairTax, and strongly believes in the 2nd amendment."
Huckabee's endorsement, which stressed Wagner's conservative credentials, is something of a coup for Wagner. It is unusual for such a prominent national Republican to make an endorsement in a contested congressional primary.
Wagner, a former head of the Missouri Republian Party and a former U.S. ambassador to Luxembour, is vying against Ed Martin, a former chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt, who almost defeated U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, in the race for 1st congressional district in 2010.
(U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, is not running for reelection from the 2nd district, making it an open seat. He's running for the U.S. Senate instead.)
Commenting on Huckabee's endorsement, Wagner said: "I am honored and humbled to have a conservative champion like Gov. Mike Huckabee supporting our team as we fight to return strong, effective and conservative leadership to Washington."
Huckabee made a respectable run for the Republican nomination for president four years ago, but decided against running again in this cycle. Recently, though, Huckabee has been urged by some Republicans to reconsider that decision.
Huckabee apparently isn't the only one being asked to reconsider a decision. Martin is reportedly being encouraged by some local Republicans to switch gears and run for the GOP nomination for governor instead.
Martin has been particularly outspoken lately against the action by the GOP-controlled Missouri General Assembly and Gov.Jay Nixon, a Democrat, to approve the Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as MOSIRA. Martin is siding with Missouri Right to Life, which says the act fails to include language to bar embryonic stem-cell research, which abortion opponents -- including Martin -- also oppose.
Wagner has said nothing publicly about MOSIRA, although she long has emphasized her anti-abortion views. Rather, she has focused on congressional and national matters. Huckabee's endorsement fits in with that strategy.
Said Wagner: "I look forward to welcoming Gov. Huckabee to Missouri's 2nd congressional district for a future grassroots campaign event."
