KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Republican Presidential Candidates Visit Wichita
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Huckabee began by jamming on bass guitar.
Hundreds turned out to hear Huckabee's speech at Jabara Airport.
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback introduces John McCain.
John McCain addresses the crowd.McCain Visit to Wichita
Republican presidential candidate John McCain made a quick stop in Wichita Friday afternoon. The party's front-runner for the nomination spoke to supporters inside a hangar at Mid-Continent Airport.
McCain contrasted his views with those of fellow senators and Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He called it as "stark a difference" as any election "we've ever
had." He adds that he's "proud to carry the banner of a conservative Republican" on issues such as the economy and national security.
More than 300 people turned out. That's significantly less than the 1,000 or so who came out to hear McCain's rival, Mike Huckabee a few hours earlier.
Republicans are holding caucuses Saturday at 67 sites across the state. Their votes will determine how the candidates divide 36 of the state's 39 delegates to the Republican National Convention in September in Minneapolis.
Huckabee Visit to Wichita
By Megan Strader
The Main Jabara Airport hangar was packed Friday morning. But not everyone was there to cheer Mike Huckabee on. Some just wanted to know what he was about.
Tanner Rose tells us, "I don't even know what party I'm going to affiliate myself with. This is my first election so it's kind of important and it's probably going to impact the rest of my life."
And it's undecided voters like Tanner that could make a big difference for Huckabee in Saturday's caucus, Kansas' first republican caucus in 20 years.
Huckabee explains, "It may certainly give the people of Kansas a new experience but I'm confident that that it will be the right kind of environment for us to be able to hopefully succeed."
Huckabee received cheers from the crowd as he explained his idea of a fair tax, his opposition to abortion and his plan for cleaner, independent fuel sources.
"As president I propose that we will be energy independent with a domestically produced and environmentally friendly sound way of having energy that does not involve the oil of the middle east."
And those views seem to be enough to make up the minds of at least a few voters. Ryan Yeakley says, "This did lean me more toward him after the speech so I'll make up my mind tomorrow."
Will Haworth adds, "I about lost hope but I think there's a ray of hope that I heard in this hangar today."
Mike Huckabee was asked the question following Friday's event , 'What are your plans if you don't win the Kansas caucus?' He said he hasn't even thought about it. The only thing he is thinking about is are his plans after he wins the Kansas caucus.
