HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Denise Murphy waited in line four hours so she could call Mike Huckabee a dog to his face.
Conservative pundit and TV personality Mike Huckabee signed hundreds of books for customers at the Huntsville Costco on Sunday. (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)
And before she left, she gave the former Arkansas governor a self-published book that said the same thing, not only about the Republican pundit, but 99 of his fellow network personalities on Fox News.
Specifically, Huckabee, who was in Huntsville on Sunday for a book signing, reminded Murphy of the qualities she finds in an Irish setter. So when she calls Huckabee a dog, she means it as an endearing term. There's more on that later.
Murphy was hardly alone in giving Huckabee praise and encouragement during the hour-long event at Costco.
More than 80 people were in line 30 minutes before he signed the first book, and there were still about that same number 30 minutes after he started signing his latest New York Times best seller, "Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett: A Grandfather's Thoughts on Faith, Family, and the Things that Matter Most."
Book tour officials said the Huntsville signing may have had the biggest crowd of the 41-city event.
Many from the crowd told the former presidential candidate they want him run for president again. Huckabee finished second to John McCain in 2008 and won the Alabama primary.
Huckabee said he hasn't ruled out running again, but a lot of variables would have to align for it to happen.
"I've certainly had a lot of encouragement, and I appreciate that," he said while heading to his bus that was about to rush him down to Birmingham for another book signing. "But it's a tough mountain to climb.
"The money of it is just daunting," Huckabee said. "I wish it wasn't about that. I wish it was about ideas and solutions. Unfortunately, for most people, it's not."
More than 80 people were in line 30 minutes before Mike Huckabee arrived to sign his latest book, "To Chandler, To Scarlett: A Grandfather'AAs Thoughts on Faith, Family, and the Things that Matter Most." (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)
Despite President Obama's re-election last month and failure of Republicans to capture some of the critical swing states it lost in 2008, Huckabee said the conservative party can win back the White House by connecting with more minorities and the working class.
"A lot of Republicans are in a fetal position thinking we just got our heads handed to us," he said. "The fact is it was a very close election.
"What I think we have to do is get our message where it communicates with the working class, middle class voters," Huckabee said. "I don't think we've done a good job of that. And we also have to make sure minorities understand conservative philosophy empowers them. It doesn't trample them."
There were only a few minorities in line at the book signing. Most were white and middle aged or elderly. But some youths showed excitement about getting to meet the host of Fox News' weekly show, "HUCKABEE," as well as host to the daily radio broadcast, "The Mike Huckabee Show," and "The Huckabee Report."
Kacie Brady, 11, read 30 pages of Huckabee's new 240-page book while waiting in line with her younger sister, Allison, and mother, Tiffany Brady.
"I like how he words things," Kacie said. "And I like how he explained there's a difference between brilliance and being educated. You can be educated but not know what you are doing."
"Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett" is based on a number of letters Huckabee wrote to his two grandchildren to pass on the wisdom his experiences taught him throughout life. Huckabee also signed copies of another best seller, "A Simple Christmas."
Costco sold 216 copies of "Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett" and 103 copies of "A Simple Christmas," said Costco marketing manager Barbara Zeitler. She noted many customers also brought their own copies of the books to the warehouse store, too.
It was common to see people buying multiple copies, but it's doubtful anyone bought more than Elaine Langbehn of Huntsville. After getting 11 signed, she got back in line with eight more for a total of 19 Christmas presents she intends to give.
"I just admire the man. I respect the man," Langbehn said. "I watch him on Fox every Sunday, and I wish he'd run for president again."
Huntsville was one of the last cities remaining on Huckabee's month-long book tour. It concludes Tuesday in Louisiana. Huckabee began Sunday by delivering two sermons in Nashville and then attending a book signing in the Music City.
Huckabee was scheduled for another event in Birmingham, but he stayed at Costco until every customer had his or her books autographed. He paused outside his bus to sign more books and pose for photos with store employees.
Denise Murphy's self-published book describes Mike Huckabee as an Irish setter, because of his "loyalty," she said. (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)
The friendliness and loyalty Huckabee showed to everyone who waited in line is why Murphy describes Huckabee as an Irish setter in her book, "Neither God nor Dogs Lie about Love." The poetry book assigns a dog breed with 100 Fox News personalities who Murphy thinks share the best attributes of the respective breeds.
She said she chose an Irish setter for Huckabee because both are loyal.
"Irish setters are extremely friendly, smart, disciplined," "Murphy said. "But loyal is the big one."