Huckabee stumps for Levin challenger

DETROIT, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is campaigning in Michigan for Jack Hoogendyk, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.

Huckabee said he is supporting Hoogendyk because of the state lawmaker's pro-life stance, support of the Second Amendment and his belief in balancing the federal budget. Hoogendyk also opposes the $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial industry recently passed by Congress, The Detroit News reported Thursday.

"I wish Jack had been there on the bailout vote," Huckabee said. "Because there aren't too many of us who really did understand this is the craziest, dumbest thing that Congress has done in a long time."

Hoogendyk is barred by term limits from seeking re-election to his state House seat. He has been given little chance of beating Levin, who was first elected to the Senate in 1978. Still, the self-described conservative isn't giving up the race.

"Remember this: The happy warrior, Ronald Reagan, in 1980, was about 15 points down one week before the election," Hoogendyk said. "And that's about where I am. And we still have almost two weeks. So we have plenty of time to catch him."