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Fox News may drop famous face from lineup
WND
Fox News and Ben Carson – who is considering a bid for the White House – went their separate ways last week. And now Fox News host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee might be the next high-profile name dropped from the payroll.
Huckabee, who sought the Republican nomination for president in 2008, appears to be gearing up for a second run – which would mean he’d have to give up his Saturday night show, “Huckabee,” on the network.
The Washington Post reported Huckabee is “reconnecting with activists,” seeking staff members and meeting with potential donors in advance of a potential presidential race.
“Advisers are already scouting real estate in Little Rock, Ark., for a possible presidential campaign headquarters,” the Post reported.
Huckabee acknowledged his “obligations in broadcasting” and need to “be very careful about this.”
Fox News executives are now pow-wowing about dropping him from the network’s lineup.
Bill Shine, Fox’s executive vice president for programming, said in a statement:
“We are taking a serious look at Governor Huckabee’s recent activity in the political arena and are evaluating his current status. We plan on meeting with him when he returns from his trip overseas.”
The cable network has a policy that requires a person’s contract to be terminated if the person forms an exploratory committee.
“This was a smart move by Fox. Because a guy who is more or less running for president shouldn’t be on a network payroll. Which means Fox also faces a decision about former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who is openly weighing a White House run as well,” said Fox News media analyst and host Howard Kurtz.
The Baptist preacher is leading a group of more than 100 pastors and Republican insiders from early primary states on an overseas jaunt to such locations as Poland and Britain.
Huckabee has also formed a nonprofit political advocacy group, America Takes Action.
Is he on the verge of running? “His heart is into it,” Huckabee’s daughter, Sarah, told the Post.
Last week Carson confirmed his paid contributor arrangement with Fox had been terminated.
“Fox News felt I needed complete independence to fully examine my options,” Carson said in a statement. “My departure has been thoroughly amicable and is in the best interest for both Fox News and myself.”
Media Matters, a liberal watchdog group that scrutinizes and criticizes Fox, said Wednesday that “Huckabee has provided just as much evidence he plans to run for president as Carson” and called on Fox to drop Huckabee.
“If the network is actually serious about not wanting to keep political candidates on its payroll, it should suspend Huckabee,” the group said in a statement.
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