Starting April 2, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, best known for his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, will be launching a new daily talk-radio show.
'The Mike Huckabee Show' will be broadcast from noon to 3 p.m. ET -- putting it in competition in many markets against some of the already established national conservative radio shows -- including Rush Limbaughs. Huckabees show will be carried by the Cumulus Media Networks which has more than 4,000 affiliates across the nation. More than 500 Cumulus stations already carry Huckabees three daily commentaries.
Expanding my presence on the radio to include a daily live show will allow me to engage listeners on the important issues facing our country, and Im grateful for this terrific opportunity, Huckabee said in a statement on Thursday.
Sources close to the project told Sunshine State News on Thursday that most of Huckabees shows will be broadcast from Florida, though he will take the show on the road, hosting town hall events. Huckabees show will start off in 20 markets, including some in the Sunshine State. Sources told Sunshine State News that a formal announcement of what stations will carry the show is in the works and will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Governor Huckabee is an important, insightful and influential figure in American public affairs, and were excited about launching his live daily radio show during the presidential election season, said John Dickey, the co-chief operating officer of Cumulus Media, on Thursday.
By taking the position, Huckabee, who moved to the Florida Panhandle after the 2008 elections, almost certainly removes himself as a contender to end up on the Republican ticket in 2012. The former Arkansas governor will continue to host his weekend talk show on Fox News and remain a contributor there.
Huckabee is not the only former governor and presidential candidate to host his own radio show. After falling short for the Democratic presidential nomination for the third time in 1992, then-former Gov. Jerry Brown of California launched his own show before getting back into politics, winning elections for mayor of Oakland, state attorney general and, in 2010, returning as governor.
A number of Republican presidential candidates -- including Ronald Reagan and Steve Forbes -- have recorded daily radio commentaries as Huckabee continues to do. Conservative organizations, such as the Family Research Council, have also reached out to supporters through short daily radio broadcasts.
While he left the door open to making a second bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Huckabee decided against running in 2012. He has not endorsed any of the current crop of Republican presidential hopefuls.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
