Mike Huckabee visits campus bookstore

About 300 people came out to the Liberty University Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Tuesday to meet former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a prominent conservative political voice and likely 2016 presidential candidate, as he signed copies of his new book, “God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy.”

Huckabee is no stranger to Liberty, having visited campus several times throughout the university’s history, most recently in 2013 to speak in Convocation. He knew Liberty’s founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, since the mid-1970s and is impressed to see Falwell’s vision of an “evangelical Notre Dame” come to fruition.

“When we drove on the campus today … I said I can just see Dr. Falwell looking down from heaven with the biggest smile on his face,” Huckabee said. “I am never ceasing to be amazed by the incredible transformation of this campus. … I think that Dr. Falwell’s vision … has not only been fulfilled, but it has greatly exceeded probably what he himself even envisioned. I don’t think anyone can come to this campus and not just be blown away.”

Huckabee’s book is intended to provide an inside look at every day America, something that he feels is often overlooked or mischaracterized by Washington, Hollywood, and the media. Liberty’s students, Huckabee said, are very much representative of the people he describes.

“I feel very much at home at Liberty University,” he said, pointing out that several of its graduates have gone on to successful careers in law, politics, and other influential fields. “Liberty is having an incredible impact on American culture.”

Enthusiastic supporters formed a line that weaved through bookshelves and extended from the front to the back of the store, waiting for their opportunity to greet Huckabee and snap a photo with the person many of them said they hope to see in the Oval Office in 2017.

Freshman Michaela Orentlich, a longtime fan of Huckabee when he was the host of his FOX News show, said it was an awesome opportunity to meet him in person.

“He is just so genuine, he relates to so many normal Americans,” she said.

Cody Bright, a junior studying politics and policy in Liberty’s Helms School of Government, added that one of the things he appreciates most about Liberty is that it regularly brings in political guests from both sides of the aisle.

“One of the reasons I came to Liberty is because it is so politically involved,” he said. “We have the opportunity to meet so many great people all the time. As someone who wants to go into this field one day, it is nice to interact with them; even if we don’t agree with what they say, it is nice to hear their perspective.”

Bright said it was especially nice to meet Huckabee — his inspiration for studying politics — for the first time.