Fred Thompson: "Huckabee Takes a Page From the Romney Playbook"

December 11, 2007 -- -- Reverses Position on Cuba Embargo --

One thing has become abundantly clear after watching Gov. Mike Huckabee abandon his long-held opposition to the Cuba trade embargo after it became politically inconvenient: In all the close rhetorical combat of the campaign, a little bit of Mitt Romney must be rubbing off on Mike Huckabee.

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Consider:

Los Angeles Times Headline: "Huckabee does a flip-flop on Cuba"

"Huckabee's Cuba flip-flop" (LAT, 12/11)

CNN Headline: "Huckabee backtracks on Cuba embargo"

"But that hard-line position on Cuba is an about-face for the former Arkansas governor." (CNN, 12/10)

"Although Huckabee previously opposed the Cuban embargo, he has since changed his opinion." (First Read, 12/10)

"But Huckabee's evolving views on certain issues" (LAT, 12/11)

"Huckabee's statement reflected one of the most dramatic reversals by a major presidential candidate on the issue that has defined U.S.-Cuba policy for nearly half a century." (Miami Herald, 12/11)

"Huckabee's conversion also surprised the Arkansas Rice Growers Association" (Miami Herald, 12/11)

"Huckabee now says he has changed his mind" (St. Pete Times, 12/11)

"That represents a marked change from a 2002 letter then-Gov. Huckabee wrote to President George W. Bush asking him to lift the embargo to help Arkansas' flailing rice industry and revive the state's sagging economy." (Palm Beach Post, 12/11)

Source: Fred Thompson campaign