First published 2008
Mike Huckabee begins his presidential campaign with empty pockets and zero name recognition outside Arkansas. Political insiders mock the bass-playing former governor who dares challenge wealthy establishment candidates like Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. Huckabee carries only his populist message about family values, fair taxation, and middle-class struggles. He attacks Wall Street greed and Washington corruption, alienating some Republican donors. His shoestring operation faces ridicule from consultants and pundits who predict swift failure. Yet Huckabee's common sense approach resonates beyond evangelical circles. Small donors and passionate volunteers join his cause. He stuns the political world by capturing Iowa and seven additional states while spending a fraction of his rivals' budgets. His campaign transforms into a lasting movement. Huckabee shares behind-the-scenes moments, from Chuck Norris commercials to meeting a Michigan supporter who donated her wedding ring. He presents his vision for "vertical politics" that transcends left-right divisions through practical solutions for education, healthcare, and economic policy.
Genres: business, american, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: against-the-odds, underdog
Setting: Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan
Period: 21st-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Sentinel