Huckabee gives Emmer his endorsement in gubernatorial race

Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee endorsed Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer on Thursday night.

In a statement posted to his Huck PAC website, Huckabee praised Emmer’s socially conservative voting record:

Tom shares our conservative values, like the sanctity of life, and traditional marriage. In fact, as a legislator, Tom have voted 100% pro-life and actually introduced numerous bills and amendments to protect the lives of the unborn. Also, Tom consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that would define and solidify traditional marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Emmer’s pro-life and anti-LGBT rights record may have won him the support from national politicians, but they are topics that the Republican candidate has increasingly avoided on the campaign trail.

Huckabee joins a growing chorus of Republicans flirting with possible 2012 presidential runs who have weighed in on Minnesota’s campaign. Over the course of the last two weeks before the midterm election, Emmer has campaigned with or is scheduled to appear alongside former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Minnesota’s own governor, Tim Pawlenty. National figures of both major parties are paying attention to the gubernatorial campaign, as President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with Democratic candidate Mark Dayton tomorrow.

Patrick Caldwell is the American Independent’s Minnesota correspondent.