Huckabee’s the first!

Realtor Devoe Blackston, attorney Herb Morgan, and radio announcer Jim Bohannon were among the first Oconeeans to welcome Mike Huckabee to the county today, as the first candidate for President to visit Oconee from among a growing number of Republicans running for President. Not a space was available in the parking lot of Seneca Family Restaurant and others who crowded into the restaurant had to find alternate places to park. Huckabee set aside two hours of his campaign for a meet-and-greet and remarks in hopes of winning some votes for this winter’s South Carolina primary. Bob Skipp, chairman of Oconee Republicans, says 15 people and perhaps a 16th are declared candidates for his party’s nomination. Skipp is working to arrange visits by others between now and the February primary. Huckabee is a former Arkansas governor who. like Democrat and former President Bill Clinton, grew up in the small town of Hope, Arkansas. One Oconeean in what sounded like a cynical comment said if Clinton could be elected President there’s “hope” for Huckabee.