Is Huckabee Still A Viable Contender?

LOOKS TO CUT COSTS

WHERE CAN HE WIN?

ORLANDO, Fla. -- (AP) Battling to stay competitive after his primary election loss in South Carolina on Saturday, Mike Huckabee is taking new steps to save money. The former Arkansas governor is no longer scheduling planes and buses for journalists trying to cover his presidential campaign.

Huckabee says he will continue to campaign in Florida on a shoestring budget but added he may pull out of the state before its Republican primary on Jan. 29 if his prospects in the state look dim.

Huckabee says his campaign will evaluate the Florida situation day by day. Meanwhile, he said, he will find time to campaign in several other southern states holding primaries on Feb. 5. Huckabee says he won't run ads in Florida -- he'll save that money for ads in other states.

Recent polls out of the Sunshine State show Huckabee running at least fourth. A new Quinnipiac University poll of New York state shows Huckabee at just 8%. Right now, he is leading in the February 5th state of Georgia.

But Some Huckaboosters are already contemplating 2012. "For us Huckaboosters, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for our man to drop out, and spend the next four years doing some hard thinking and networking, getting ready for 2012," writes conservative Rod Dreher.