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Anti-Tax Group Widens Huckabee Attack

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By JIM KUHNHENN, The Associated Press

Published: December 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - A conservative antitax group on Wednesday expanded its ad campaign against Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, helped by a major GOP donor who bankrolled ads that questioned Democrat John Kerry's war record during the 2004 campaign.

The Club for Growth is spending $175,000 to continue running ads in Iowa that highlight tax increases adopted in Arkansas when Huckabee was governor. During the past three weeks, the group has spent $550,000 to criticize Huckabee's economic policies.

According to Federal Election Commission records, ClubFor Growth.net received $200,000 this month from Bob Perry, a Houston home builder who, in 2004, pumped nearly $4.5 million into the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth to pay for unsubstantiated ads that questioned Kerry's Vietnam service.

Perry contributed $2,300, the maximum allowed, to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who is Huckabee's top rival in Iowa. Romney has been running his own ads against Huckabee, criticizing his record on immigration and taxes.

Another major donor is Jackson T. "Steve" Stephens Jr., a Little Rock, Ark., businessman and member of the Club for Growth's board of directors. Stephens is a longtime critic of Huckabee who considered running against him for governor. He has donated $200,000 to the group, including $100,000 this month.

"Most Iowans have figured out this is a Washington special interest that's attacking the governor," Huckabee campaign manager Chip Saltsman said. "It's one or two people with a lot of money."

Stephens owns ExOxEmis, a biomedical business that produces enzyme-based therapeutic drugs. Like Perry, Stephens has contributed large sums to the Club for Growth in the past.

Club for Growth spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik said Stephens' presence on the board and his contributions are not driving the campaign against Huckabee.

"If you look at Huckabee's record, on economic issues, he's the worst Republican in this race," she said.

The Club for Growth has not been shy about trying to defeat Republicans.

In 2006, it mounted a primary election campaign against Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., a moderate who had voted against President Bush's tax cuts. Chafee eventually lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in the general election.

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