This was a surprise. From the Hunter statement:
“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail,” said Hunter. “Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America‚s industrial base.”
“Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement. Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well. My personal choice is Mike Huckabee,” Hunter concluded.
More: The endorsement of Huckabee just doesn’t seem to fit, given Hunter’s national-security orientation, concern about China, all that. I thought it seemed so odd that, when I got the email a few minutes ago, I called Hunter’s spokesman to make sure it was right. It’s not huge news – Hunter got all of 1,048 votes in the South Carolina – but a number of conservatives who paid close attention to the race liked Hunter, and they usually weren’t the sort to support Huckabee.