CBS "Early Show" Interview - Transcript

Interview

CBS "Early Show" Interview

MR. SMITH: Find me the pundit who knew Mike Huckabee would do so well on Super Tuesday. As we say, he won five states -- West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas. He joins us now to talk first about these horrendous storms that have slammed his part of the country.

Governor, what do you know this morning?

MR. HUCKABEE: Well, we know that there's about 27 people dead across the South. This brings back so many, frankly, horrific memories. During my 10 and a half years as governor, I often would get that phone call -- tornadoes had struck; always the fear that someone would be killed. That happens time and time again in my state.

It's one of those things -- you walk through the debris, you look around, and you just wonder how anybody lived. But when someone loses a life, the world has changed, and suddenly all the things we thought were important become pretty insignificant at that moment.

MR. SMITH: Wow. The news of that was coming in even as the numbers were lighting up your states, these five states that we talked about just a second ago. As it was becoming clear that you had already won West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, what was your reaction? What were you thinking?

MR. HUCKABEE: I was not surprised. Honestly, we were -- the only surprise we had was that we didn't win Missouri and Oklahoma, where we almost came in first there, and a lot of factors to consider. But we believed that we would. And we've been saying all along that many people had counted us out. The amazing thing about the victories last night was that was done in spite of radio talk and a whole lot of people saying, "Hey, Huckabee's not even in this race. This is a two- man race."

MR. SMITH: And a whole bunch of money, right.

MR. HUCKABEE: And a lot of money. You know, we were outspent probably 10 to one. Mitt Romney's spent $100 million. We've spent maybe $8 (million) or $9 (million) for the whole thing.

MR. SMITH: Should Mitt Romney quit?

MR. HUCKABEE: That's his decision. I know he's been suggesting I should, but I'm not going to suggest he should. You know, he's got a lot invested in this campaign. Boy, does he ever. I've got a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and I've got a lot of people who have pushed me here. To walk away from them would be something I couldn't do to my supporters.

MR. SMITH: So you're not leaving. Does that make you the irresistible choice as a vice presidential -- as a running mate?

MR. HUCKABEE: Well, I still want to be the irresistible choice to be the president. And I still think until somebody gets 1,191 delegates, the game is on. Anything can happen out here on this track.

MR. SMITH: Governor, thank you so much for your time this morning. Congratulations.

MR. HUCKABEE: Thank you, Harry.

Source