The Trail

TOUGH TALK

Huckabee Stands Firm On Education, Taxes

Mike Huckabee is not backing off.

Flanked by action-movie star Chuck Norris, the former Arkansas governor told a roomful of Washington reporters yesterday that he will defend his effort to educate the children of illegal immigrants, "even if it costs me the election."

Huckabee has been criticized by Mitt Romney and other Republicans running for president for supporting legislation in Arkansas that would have made all youngsters who graduate from state high schools eligible to compete for college scholarships, no matter the legal status of their parents.

With Norris citing examples of children of illegal immigrants he has helped educate through his foundation, Huckabee declared that "my soul will not let me" compromise on that stand -- despite the bill's rejection by his state Senate.

Huckabee, whose numbers are strong in Iowa, also renewed his feud with the Club for Growth, which has criticized his record on taxes. "If Ronald Reagan were on the ballot today, the Club for Growth would be running ads against him," Huckabee said, "because he raised taxes in California. He did what all governors have to do. He balanced the budget."

Huckabee told the reporters that he is the Republican best equipped to run against Hillary Rodham Clinton, because "I beat the Clinton machine four times in Arkansas," where it is even more deeply entrenched than it is nationally.

-- David S. Broder

ON THE JOB

Youth in 'Macaca' Flap Working for Richardson

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