 "Photo: Chris Kominczak")
COLLEGE STATION - His fingers strummed the strings of his bass guitar as he tapped his right foot along with the beat. The only thing separating sit-in bassist Mike Huckabee from the rest of the College Station country band was his navy suit and maroon tie.
The former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful performed in front of a packed Texas A&M auditorium Friday afternoon before delivering an hour-long speech.
Huckabee used his wit to engage the audience of college students who held "I Like Mike" signs and clapped for the man whose nationwide support is dwindling.
"I'll tell you something, folks. One thing I know about people in Texas is you don't care about how people in the East Coast are going to tell you how it's going to be," he said. "There is a strong independent streak in Texas, and it ain't over until Texas says it's over."
Huckabee needs about 995 delegates to receive the GOP nomination, while McCain by most counts needs about 200. Texas is the biggest prize for the Republican Party nominees, offering 137 delegates.
"I'm having to deal with, every day, listening to some of these folks in the national media, the East Coast and Washington and New York saying the Republican Party is all over because it's all wrapped up in John McCain," he said. "Excuse me, but no one has 1,191 delegates yet."
Huckabee surprised the audience by bringing his most recognized supporter on stage - Chuck Norris.
"I've already got it figured out - my plan for securing the border. Two words - Chuck Norris," he said as the pop icon walked on stage.
"I only live 20 minutes from here, so it's not that far to get here," Norris said.
Norris said he and his wife decided to support Huckabee after his debate performances impressed them.
Huckabee discussed his tax plan, which would eliminate federal income taxes and replace them with a state sales tax that would then be handed to the national government by individual states. Huckabee said Americans would consequently keep their entire paychecks.
His tax system is attractive to Jess Fields, economics sophomore and vice chairperson of A&M's College Republicans chapter.
Fields owns a cigar shop in College Station and said Huckabee's system would empower small businesses.
"He really does believe that a supply-side economics in the White House is far better than going after consumption," Fields said. "That's an attractive idea."
Fields said Huckabee would garner the support of A&M students and would consequently win Brazos County since students make up the majority of the population.
"If students are registered to vote, I think he's going to get the majority to vote for him," Fields said. "He's a very engaging speaker, and he did give a great speech."
Fields is voting for Ron Paul on March 4 but is not giving up on the governor-turned-bass-playing presidential candidate.
"Yeah, he'd definitely be my second choice," Fields said.
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