Speaking to WHO-AM’s Simon Conway in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee discussed the difficulties his campaign has faced, and his prospects for advancing beyond the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus.
The former Governor of Arkansas was frank about the situation he faces: Iowa is make-or-break for his campaign.
“If we can’t come within striking distance of the victory or win it, then I think we recognize that it’s going to be hard to take that onto the other states,” he said. “Historically, we’ve always said there are three tickets out of Iowa … I think in many ways that’s probably still the case.”
Currently, Huckabee has a 30-day polling average of 3.13 percent in the Hawkeye State, but his trend line is headed downward going into the brief Christmas break. The 2008 Iowa Republican Caucus winner is currently sitting in sixth place, based on polling averages, and is within the margin of error to move up to fifth.
If he doesn’t finish in the top three in Iowa, he has said he definitely didn’t see any way he could continue his campaign. Depending on the final vote tally, third place might not be enough, either.
“It may be that if you’re a close second or a close third, that’s very good. If you’re a distant third, then maybe there’s not a way to go on,” he said. “I think you have a good hard look at it after Iowa.”
