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 The 59-year-old former Arkansas governor and former host of a
popular Fox News television show is considered a long shot in the
widening race to represent the Republican Party in the November 2016
election. He is the sixth Republican to make a formal run.
Huckabee's emphasis on American workers marks an attempt to expand
his base beyond social conservative voters who the former Southern
Baptist pastor rallied to an early, surprise victory in the 2008
White House race.
Huckabee made clear he wants the Christian right behind him again in
2016, setting up a competition with like-minded rivals like Senator
Ted Cruz of Texas. But he spent much of a fiery, populist speech on
people struggling to make ends meet.
"I don't come from a family dynasty, but a working family. I grew up
blue-collar, not blue-blood," he said, in an apparent reference to
former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a likely rival whose old, wealthy
family includes a father and brother who were presidents.
 Huckabee may also have been taking aim at Democratic front-runner
Hillary Clinton. While her upbringing was not on par with Jeb
Bush's, she is seen as part of a political dynasty started by her
husband, President Bill Clinton.
Huckabee's message may play well in Iowa, which will begin the
nominating process next January. Social conservatives play a
prominent role in the state's Republican politics.
"There’s a large segment of working-class evangelicals within the
Republican Party and I think he is hitting at the heart," said Tim
Albrecht, a Republican strategist in Iowa.
Huckabee announced his bid in the small town of Hope, Arkansas,
which both he and Bill Clinton, also a former Arkansas governor,
call their hometown.
At a community college where the event took place, audience members
chanted, "We like Mike!"
Huckabee spoke of his own simple life growing up in Hope, recalling
daily prayers, fishing and hunting. He met his wife in high school.
The candidate said hard-working Americans are being left behind in
today's economy, and blamed Democratic President Barack Obama for
U.S. economic woes.
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While the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen to 5.5 percent from its
late 2008 level of 6.8 percent, many working Americans have not seen
their paychecks rise enough to pay the bills.
"Ninety-three million Americans don't have jobs," Huckabee said.
"And many of them who do have seen their full-time job with benefits
they once had become two part-time jobs with no benefits at all.
"We were promised hope, but it was just talk," he said, referring to
a theme of Obama's successful 2008 presidential bid.
Huckabee reiterated his long-held opposition to abortion and gay
marriage, deeply held concerns for evangelical Christians and other
social conservatives. In recent years, they have seen same-sex
marriage gain wider support and win legalization in an increasing
number of states.
"We've lost our way, morally," Huckabee said, referring to abortion
as "slaughter" and to "the biblical principles of natural marriage."
In addition to Huckabee and Cruz, Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and
Marco Rubio of Florida, former Hewlett-Packard Co chief Carly
Fiorina and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson are seeking the
Republican nomination.
(Reporting by Steve Barnes; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by
Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Oatis)
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