Christian conservatives like Huckabee

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Christian conservatives meeting in Washington Saturday favor minister-politician-commentator Mike Huckabee for U.S. president in 2012, a straw poll indicated.

Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who was governor of Arkansas ran for the Republican nomination for president last year and is now a Fox network commentator, was picked by 28 percent of 597 delegates polled at the annual Value Voters Summit as the best candidate to revitalize the GOP around the party's traditional conservative principles, Politico reported.

Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and businessman who also lost the Republican presidential nomination last year, received about 12 percent, followed closely by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, Politico said

In announcing the straw poll results, Tony Perkins, president of summit sponsor Family Research Council, said Huckabee has his "finger on the pulse" of conservative voters and has a gift for reaching the GOP's cultural base, Politico said.

House Minority Leader John Boehner and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke at the gathering, blasting Democratic President Barack Obama's policy initiatives, Fox News said.