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Statewide organization
launched in support of Mike Huckabee |
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WashingtonforHuckabee.com to prepare the way for Washington State
contest
BOTHELL -- Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten announced today the formation
of a statewide organization and website in support of Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee's 2008 presidential bid. The new group, Washington for Huckabee,
is not officially endorsed by the national Huckabee for President campaign.
However, the group has agreed to be its point of contact in Washington State.
Dr.
Fuiten will serve as the state chairman for Washington for Huckabee, supported
by a team of political activists and strategists, including his long-time
grassroots director, Danille Turissini, Port Ludlow.
Fuiten, joined by
over 100 evangelical and socially conservative supporters, announced his
endorsement of Governor Huckabee during the candidate's visit to Bellevue in
November (read more). He remains enthusiastic about the prospect of a win in
November.
According to Fuiten, "On January 3, Mike Huckabee proved to
the nation that he is a viable candidate. Most notably, he demonstrated
through his win in Iowa that politics in America is about people; it can not
be purchased. He has continued this empowering message as he stumps in New Hampshire.
"The big news out of Iowa was not so much who won but who
voted. Much is being made of the fact that Evangelicals voted
overwhelmingly for Huckabee and gave him his stunning victory. I am
excited about that but even more that Evangelicals actually voted," according
to Fuiten, who served as the Bush-Cheney '04 Washington State Social
Conservative Chair.
He said, "We provided the margin for victory in
2004 and then absolutely disappeared in 2006. I am hoping that Iowa is
the opening shot of Evangelicals returning to the political process for 2008.
If so, prepare to be surprised by the results."
Fuiten projects that
Washington State could especially feel the impact of this huge change. "In
2006," he reports, "Nearly half of all Evangelicals in Washington State were
not even registered to vote. Of those who were registered, only 12.4%
voted. Putting the two together, only 8.4% of Washington State
Evangelicals voted. That huge defection from civic responsibility was a
big part of over half a million Protestants who had voted in 2004 but who
failed to vote in 2006 (read more).
"The Republican Entrance Polls for Iowa
indicated that 60% of the Republicans who caucused self-identified as 'born
again or Evangelical'. That level of turnout is so encouraging to me. Likewise, I am hopeful as Huckabee remains in the top tier in New Hampshire. I
am going to be watching carefully in the next few states, particularly in
South Carolina, to see if this trend continues. The polls indicate that they will," said Fuiten.
He
continued, "No other group in Washington has as much muscle to dominate every
election in Washington State, as do the Evangelicals. However, we have never come anywhere close
to our potential. That needs to change in 2008.
- First we have to
register, and we are mounting a campaign to do that (click here for more info).
- Then we actually
have to vote.
- I know we believe in prayer.
- I am hoping we also
believe in doing something about it.
"Mike Huckabee's grassroots
organization defeated an opponent who outspent him 15 to 1, including 14,000
negative ads launched against his candidacy. Political ideologues have
countered him on nearly every point of his record and platform. Repeatedly, he has had to contend with politically driven, misleading questions, particularly from Mitt Romney.
From the
onset, political pundits declared Mike Huckabee DOA. They were dead wrong. We
expect to see him competing in Washington State in the not too distant
future. We also expect to see our Evangelical base rise to the occasion for an authentic conservative," Fuiten said.
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| Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten is the senior pastor of Cedar Park Church in Bothell, Washington, and he is the former president of Positive Christian Agenda. Currently, Pastor Fuiten serves on the Board of Directors for the Family Policy Institute of Washington, an associate organization of Focus on the Family.
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