Huckabee Receives Endorsement From Pro Wrestler 'Nature Boy'

LITTLE ROCK (AP) _ The wrestling may be fake, but the endorsement isn't. <br/><br/>Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced Tuesday that professional wrestler Ric Flair is backing

Tuesday, November 20th 2007, 12:50 pm

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK (AP) _ The wrestling may be fake, but the endorsement isn't.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced Tuesday that professional wrestler Ric Flair is backing his bid for the White House. Flair, known in the ring as the ``Nature Boy,'' will campaign with Huckabee on Saturday at a tailgate before the Clemson-South Carolina game in Columbia, S.C., Huckabee's campaign said.

``His authentic conservative qualifications and level of executive leadership experience are unmatched by his opponents,'' Flair said in a prepared statement released by Huckabee's campaign. ``And like I always say, to be the man, you've got to beat the man and Mike Huckabee is the man.''

Flair's statement ended with his trademark yell: ``Whoooooooo!''

Huckabee said his children grew up watching Flair wrestle on television. The platinum-haired wrestler has played heroes and villains in the ring, always with elaborate robes sporting rhinestones and peacock feathers.

A press release from Huckabee's campaign said Flair has previously campaigned for Republicans George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole and George W. Bush. In 2000, Flair briefly considered running for North Carolina governor as either an independent or a Republican.

Flair's backing is the latest odd endorsement Huckabee has received in his White House bid. Huckabee, who served more than 10 years as Arkansas governor, completed his last term in January.

Action star Chuck Norris, who has endorsed Huckabee, is featured in an ad that began airing Monday in Iowa. In the 30-second spot, Huckabee jokes that the ``Walker, Texas Ranger'' star is his plan to securing the nation's border.

Huckabee also received the endorsement this week of Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker and author.

Earlier this month, Huckabee announced the endorsement of conservative activist Donald Wildmon, who has led national boycotts against corporations over social policies and once accused Mighty Mouse of teaching children to snort cocaine.