N.H. activist signed on to help Huckabee in '08

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --A Republican Party activist from New Hampshire said Monday that Gov. Mike Huckabee has asked him to head his New Hampshire campaign if the Arkansas governor decides to run for president in 2008.

Cliff Hurst, the former chairman of the Manchester Republican Committee in New Hampshire, said Huckabee tapped him to head up a potential presidential campaign in the pivotal primary state.

"He called me about a month ago and asked me if I'd be interested in chairing his New Hampshire organization if he does run," Hurst said in an interview Monday.

Huckabee, who leaves office in January due to term limits, is considering a run for the 2008 presidential nomination and has said he won't announce his plans until after he leaves office.

Huckabee said he has asked Hurst to work with him on his Hope for America Political Action Committee, which raises money for state and local candidates and has allowed the governor to build support and line up donors in advance of a possible run.

"He's helping us with our PAC up there in New Hampshire now. He's a great guy and a wonderful activist," Huckabee said. "I'm sure if I get involved, he'll be involved very much, you bet."

Hurst said he first met Huckabee about two years ago when the governor visited New Hampshire. Hurst said he doesn't know whether Huckabee has already decided whether to run.

"I don't know exactly where he is in the whole process," Hurst said. "I think he's going to have to build from the ground up. There are a lot of people here who are interested in getting involved should he decide to run."

Huckabee has said a book he is releasing in January will help him gauge the amount of support he may have for a presidential run.

Republicans including Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback have formed exploratory committees for possible presidential runs. Huckabee's PAC will hold a gala on Saturday in Little Rock that Huckabee said will help him travel to key 2008 states.

This year, Huckabee signed up veteran Republican activist Eric Woolson to run his grass-roots political operations in four Midwestern states, including Iowa.

Woolson said Huckabee has not selected anyone to be his campaign chairman in Iowa if he does decide to run, but said the governor has been building up contacts with activists throughout the state.

"What we have done here in Iowa is really just talk to a broad range of the grass roots people that we know in the county organizations," Woolson said. "We haven't gotten to the point where someone has said `I would like to be your state chairman.'"

Hurst said he doesn't believe early next year will be too late for him to enter the race.

"I really don't think that's coming to hurt him," Hurst said. "I think there's a real opening for a conservative. I just think that should he decide to run, he'll do real well in New Hampshire."