openpolitics.com

Mike Huckabee Vows to Protect Programs for Older Americans

In many ways, Mike Huckabee is employing sentiments from independent voters who often say, ‘If you want to find waste and fraud to cut in Washington, begin with yourselves,’ ” said Kellyanne Conway

.. Without naming his rival at the time, Mitt Romney, Mr. Huckabee delivered a searing assessment in an interview with Jay Leno, saying, “People are looking for a presidential candidate who reminds them of the guy they work with rather than the guy who laid them off.”

.. Yet Alex Castellanos, a veteran Republican strategist, suggested that Mr. Huckabee has a bit of a cushion from any criticism in his party, given that a Republican attack line on President Obama in the past five years was that his health care overhaul cut Medicare for older adults.

“It’s a pretty long list of Republicans who attacked Obama for cutting Medicare,” Mr. Castellanos said. “They’re on record, all of those Republicans. No Republican who hopes to make it through the primary is going to attack Huckabee for defending Medicare.”