Mike Huckabee May be Headed for His Own Show on Fox News

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is reportedly in talks with Fox News to host his own show on the network. He recently signed a one-year contract with Fox News to be a political analyst:

Less than one month after signing on as a Fox News commentator, Mike Huckabee is working aggressively to expand his media presence.

This week, Huckabee is meeting with Fox officials about plans to host his own show on the network. Plus, he’s subbing for Paul Harvey on ABC Radio Network and appearing on a number of existing Fox shows.

A former Arkansas governor who upended the Republican presidential race with his upset victory in the Iowa caucuses, Huckabee continued campaigning for the nomination after it became mathematically impossible for him to catch John McCain in the delegate race. That prompted speculation that Huckabee was more interested in boosting his profile than in a future in politics, though his name is still bandied about as a possible running mate for McCain.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, worked in local radio as a teenager. And, on the campaign trail, he won raves for his quick wit and folksy delivery.

After an appearance as a political analyst on one of MSNBC’s election-night broadcasts, Huckabee last month inked a one-year deal with Fox to provide commentary on a variety of the networks shows.

A source with knowledge of Huckabee’s contract said it included tentative plans for him to host his own show. Fox declined to comment about plans for the show, while a Huckabee advisor did not immediately have information about the discussions.

But, in a Monday e-mail, Huckabee told supporters he’s looking to expand his media footprint on Fox and elsewhere.

“I’m in New York for a few days to meet with Fox News officials and discuss a show I would host, as well as appear on numerous Fox programs in the next few days,” reads his email. “On Tuesday and Wednesday, a really special opportunity for me — I’ll be subbing for the legendary and immortal Paul Harvey on the ABC Radio Network.”

Huckabee called the Harvey gig “truly a special honor” and asked his supporters to pray for him to have “clarity when substituting for Paul Harvey” as well as “wisdom in being on shows like Hannity and Colmes and O’Reilly.”

Cable news networks have expanded their political coverage in response to intense viewer interest in the 2008 presidential campaign. And in recent months, Fox has inked a number of big political names to provide analysis, from former Bush political guruKarl Rove to Howard Wolfson, the top spokesman for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s bid for the Democratic nomination.

Huckabee also has started a political action committee to raise money for Republicans who support “tax reform, a strong national defense, real border security, life, the family, less government, and individual liberty.”

In his e-mail, he asked for donations to the PAC and also indicated he plans to leave Thursday for a week-long trip to Rwanda with McCain’s wife, Cindy, as well as former Sens. Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, and Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat who is co-chairman for the campaign of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Huckabee is very entertaining to listen to, and would probably be a hit with his own show. It would keep him and his views clearly in the spotlight over the next few years, and would be a great platform for him to prepare for a run for the nomination in 2012. I hope it works out for Huckabee, and there is still an outside chance he will be McCain's pick for VP - though I believe that is unlikely.