TribBlog: Huckabee Hearts Paxton

Former Arkansas Gov. and current Fox News host Mike Huckabee waded into the speaker's race today. His pick: state Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney.

Huckabee, a potential 2012 presidential contender, announced the endorsement on the blog for Huck PAC, his political action committee. The candidates Huckabee passed up are incumbent Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, and state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa. Chisum and Paxton are both attacking Straus from the right, claiming he lacks the conservative credentials for the post.

Here is an excerpt of Huckabee's endorsement:

While Republicans across Texas and across the nation had many great victories on November 2nd, the battle for true conservatism is not over. Now, as the majority Party in many State Houses, and the U.S. House, Republicans have the duty and ability to select strong conservatives to be new Speakers of the House. That position should be filled by one who has the knowledge, ability and relationships to create and push a strong conservative agenda. In Texas, that’s Ken Paxton.

Huck PAC and I are pleased to again endorse Ken, this time for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.