Huckabee Hails Iowa Judges Ouster

In a visit to Iowa to court evangelical voters, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee trumpeted the removal of three state supreme court justices who agreed with the marriage equality ruling last year.

According to the Associated Press, Hucakbee spoke to more than 1,000 evangelicals in Des Moines at a gathering to mark the merger of a number of groups into a single organization called the Family Leader, led by antigay activist Bob Vander Plaats. Vander Plaats led the campaign to remove the three justices in this month's election.

"The significance and historic nature of the judicial elections here in Iowa were far bigger than the borders of Iowa," said Huckabee. "It was a very important statement that voters made, a statement that resonated across the country and one that I think will give legs to a larger movement over the next few years."

Huckabee, who currently works as a television commentator, is considering a run for president in 2012, when he would benefit from the evangelicals' support in the Iowa caucuses. The former Baptist minister won the precinct caucuses in the last election cycle, but said he will not make a decision about another attempt for at least another six months.

Huckabee insisted he would not be swayed by what Sarah Palin, who is also mulling a presidential run, decides to do, according to the AP.