In Arkansas, Mike Huckabee launches 2nd White House bid

Mike Huckabee has cast his hat into the 2016 Republican presidential hopeful ring. | AP file

HOPE, Ark. — Former Gov. Mike Huckabee has declared his candidacy for president in the hometown he shares with former President Bill Clinton — Hope, Arkansas. It’s his second run for the Republican nomination.

[nicelink url=”http://national.suntimes.com/national-politics/7/72/1059387/mike-huckabees-website-serves-503-error”]

He told supporters at his Hope rally on Tuesday: “It would be perfectly fitting that I would announce here that I am a candidate for president of the United States of America.”

Huckabee is running eight years after his first efforts to expand on the support of evangelical Christians helped him win eight states in the 2008 primaries.

The ordained Baptist minister turned politician sees himself as an economic populist and foreign affairs hawk who holds deeply conservative views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. He’s 59.

He’s the third Republican this week to enter the race.

BILL BARROW, Associated Press

Next Up In Washington

Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site

No cracks in Blue Wall? Top Democrats vow Chicago is ready for convention, despite party divisions

Watchdog group asks feds to probe Trump over $50 million 'nonexistent' loan to his Chicago company

$2 million federal grant to address damage to the West Side by the Eisenhower Expressway

Supreme Court ruling in GI Bill case could force VA to give more than 1 million vets greater college benefits

New Chicago intelligence hub aims to ‘squeeze every last piece of evidence’ out of guns used in crimes