"When people say, 'We ought to separate politics from religion,' I say to separate the two is absolutely impossible" "

Political Pastor Governs for God!

Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas (1996-2007). Just after leaving office, he announced his candidacy for the 2008 United States presidential election. Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, a published author and a musician. He enjoys playing bass guitar in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense.

Huckabee was born in Hope, Arkansas, to Mae Elder and Dorsey Wiles Huckabee, both natives of Hope. He graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing a bachelor's degree in Religion in less than 3 years. He then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, but dropped out after one year.

At the age of 23, Huckabee worked for James Robison, a television evangelist. Before becoming a politician, Huckabee was the pastor of several Southern Baptist churches in Arkadelphia, Texarkana and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 1989 Huckabee became the president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, serving until 1991.

About the intersection of his religious and political careers, Huckabee has said "Politics are totally directed by worldview. That's why when people say, 'We ought to separate politics from religion,' I say to separate the two is absolutely impossible".

Huckabee first ran for political office in 1992, losing to incumbent U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR). At the same time Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States, making Lieutenant Governor Jim Guy Tucker the new Governor. On July 27, 1993 Huckabee narrowly won a special election for lieutenant governor, defeating Nate Coulter, who had been Bumpers' campaign manager in 1992.

In 1994, Huckabee was re-elected to a full term as lieutenant governor, beating Democrat Charlie Cole Chaffin with nearly 59% of the vote. In 1996, Huckabee ran for the U.S. Senate again. But in May 1996 he quit the race to fill the unexpired term of Governor Tucker, who had announced that he would resign in July while appealing a federal conviction in the Whitewater scandal.

Huckabee was sworn in as Governor of Arkansas on July 15, 1996. Two years later, in November 1998, Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term by defeating Jonesboro attorney Bill Bristow. He became the third Republican elected governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction. In November 2002 Huckabee was reelected to his second four-year term by defeating State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher.

Huckabee’s efforts to improve his health have received national attention. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, he lost 110 pounds. Two years later, he had completed four marathons: The 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon.

Continuing to call for a national emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle, Huckabee completed his fourth book, Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife and Fork. This program is an approach to managing one's health through lifestyle change rather than a simple diet and exercise plan.

When he left office on January 9, 2007, Huckabee launched his bid to become president of the United States by going on a nationwide tour to promote his fifth book, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America's Greatness.

Huckabee plays bass guitar in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band, and has played the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, CO and for two presidential inauguration balls.

Huckabee's wife Janet, the former Janet McCain, was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and moved to Hope, Arkansas at the age of one. She graduated from Hope High School, and on May 25, 1974, at the age of 18, she married Huckabee, her high school sweetheart. The following year, Mrs. Huckabee was diagnosed with spinal cancer and underwent surgery and radiation therapy. Doctors said she may never walk again, but she not only learned to walk again, she has completed two marathons.

The former governor and his wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.