Huckabee greeted with enthusiasm at Asheville book tour stop; misses chance to meet Graham

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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From the Charlotte Observer:

The Billy Graham Library has postponed a book signing that was scheduled for Friday with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The past and possibly future Republican presidential candidate was to meet and briefly appear at the library with Billy Graham, 92, who lives in Montreat. But a scheduling conflict developed: One of Graham’s regular medical tests was rescheduled for this week, said Brent Rinehart, a spokesman for the Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Huckabee was in Asheville, at the Barnes & Noble book store at the Asheville Mall, as part of his book tour. Some 600 enthusiastic supporters turned out for the stop, according to John Boyle of the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008 and finished second to John McCain for the Republican nomination, is considered a likely Republican presidential candidate again for 2012.

He wouldn’t commit to a run Tuesday night, though.

“I am very seriously considering it, and my time frame is this summer to make the decision,” Huckabee said after the book signing, acknowledging that many people want him to run. “I think they understand this is not a decision you jump off into impulsively.”