Former Ark Gov Huckabee to run for US president

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) Former Arkansas Gov Mike Huckabee said today he would take the first step toward a longshot campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

''Tomorrow I'll be filing papers to launch an exploratory committee and yes I'll be out there,'' he said on NBC's ''Meet the Press.'' Such a committee will allow him to raise money and hire campaign staff.

''I think America needs positive optimistic leadership to kind of turn this country around to see a revival of our national soul and to reclaim a sense of the greatness of this country that we love,'' he said.

Huckabee, 51, who served more than 10 years as governor, said he supported President George W Bush on the Iraq war and defended his conservative record, even though taxes in Arkansas were raised several times during his time as governor.

He said he also cut some taxes and was under court order to improve education, which required raising others like cigarette and road taxes as the only way to bring in the money.

''No one can question the conservative record over 10 years,'' said Huckabee, who also defended his anti-abortion stand.

Huckabee joined a crowded field of Republican candidates who have taken the first exploratory steps toward running for president. But he enters the race near the bottom of the recognition polls led by Senator John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Huckabee had been elected lieutenant governor in Arkansas and took over as governor in 1996 when Democrat Jim Guy Tucker resigned because he was convicted of a felony in the Whitewater scandal. Tucker had taken over as governor when Bill Clinton left to become president.

Nationally Huckabee may be best known for dieting and exercising his way to a 110-pound weight loss.

REUTERS SP KP2158