Huckabee: Election results prove widespread dissatisfaction

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By Joseph Weber

Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Wednesday that his party's election victories was no off-year fluke and that congressional Democrats face more losses because voters are increasingly dissatisfied with how Democrats are running the country.

"This was like having a 98 mph fastball lobbed right at your head if you're a Democrat in Congress," said Mr. Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and now Fox News commentator.

He also said the fact that independent voters sided with Republican candidates proves the dissatisfaction is widespread and beyond party politics.

"The big picture was there was a lot of anger and hostility among independents who said, 'We're not getting the change we voted for.' It was a huge blow back not just to the White House, but for Congress," he told The Washington Times' "American's Morning News" radio show.

He said that Republicans had good candidates in the local races but that voters also went to the polls because they were dissatisfied with such issues as the large federal deficit, high unemployment and increasing government intervention.

"The policies that are being put forth . . . are just driving people nuts," Mr. Huckabee said.

He said the decisions by the Democrat-controlled Congress -- including efforts to create a government-supported health care system -- have made Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln "one of the most vulnerable Democrats in Congress."

Several Republicans already have announced plans to challenge the moderate, three-term senator in 2010.

"It's kind of a free-for-all in terms of people saying, 'This is one we can get,'" Mr. Huckabee said.