After Poll Indicates A Tie, Huckabee Subject of Attacks

Mike Huckabee is learning what it feels like to be a target.

A day after a Washington Post-ABC News poll of Iowa voters found him in a statistical tie for the lead with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Mr. Huckabee's critics turned aggressive.

The Web site FactCheck.org published a critique of his fiscal record, saying he regularly "misrepresents" his actions as governor of Arkansas and concluded that he "presided over a net tax increase" despite his frequent discussion of cutting taxes.

Those are the messages that his opponents are eager to see publicized. Mr. Romney has staked his campaign on a victory in Iowa, where he's been leading for months. And Mr. Thompson's flagging campaign sees Mr. Huckabee as an obstacle to its own chances in Iowa.

Until recently, Mr. Huckabee has been left untouched. Profiles have tended to focus on his sense of humor, his history as a Baptist minister, and his bass guitar playing. But now, his rivals are trying to paint a darker narrative.

In addition to Mr. Huckabee's record on taxes — for which he has been hammered mercilessly by the Club for Growth — rival campaigns are now peddling information about Mr. Huckabee's personal ethics.