Romney (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)Former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Sunday became the latest pundit to concede that while Mitt Romney may not be the perfect candidate, conservatives should prepare to support him as their nominee.
As Ben Smith reported, when Huckabee was asked Sunday by 77WABC New York "Investigative Radio" host Aaron Klein to comment on whether the tea party will sit out the 2012 election if former Massachusetts Gov. Romney is the Republican nominee, Huckabee responded with the following:
It would be real tragic if they stayed out because Mitt Romney may not be their first choice, but Mitt Romney every day of the week and twice on Sunday is gonna to be a much more effective president for issues that they care about than Barack Obama. And I think sometimes there is this anxiety within the Republican Party of who is the perfect candidate. The answer is: there isn't one. And so, what you find is you have to decide who can survive the process. And whoever that is-- and if it's Mitt Romney, then I think Republicans and conservatives and tea party need to get behind him and say, 'You may not be our first choice, but between you and Obama, I'll vote forty times to help get you elected.'
Huckabee's comments are the latest indication conservatives are readying one another to "hold their noses" and vote for Romney, who opponents on both sides of the aisle paint as the most moderate major Republican candidate in the 2012 race.
Last week, it was conservative pundit Ann Coulter who was dispensing the "get ready for Romney" advice.
"Everyone knows the nominee is going to be Romney," Coulter wrote in a column for Townhall Nov. 16. "That's not so bad if you think the most important issues in this election are defeating Obama and repealing Obamacare."
Myra Adams wrote for conservative PJ Media last month that "GOP primary voters must seriously consider who has the potential for wide national appeal in blue and purple states enough to make Obama a one-term president."
"And by 'holding their noses' a second time and voting for Romney in the general election, they will be rewarded by breathing in the sweet smell of victory on the evening of November 6th , 2012."
Of course, one major thing that sets other conservative thinkers apart from Huckabee is that Huckabee stands to personally benefit from praising and supporting Romney--the former governor is still regarded as a potential vice presidential pick, especially for someone looking to add conservative credentials to their ticket.
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