In Iowa, Huckabee Backer Chuck Norris Strikes Out at Romney

DES MOINES, Iowa — Michael Huckabee may have publicly balked at airing an attack ad against Mitt Romney, but one of Mr. Huckabee's most famous supporters, Chuck Norris, is showing no qualms about striking out at the former Massachusetts governor.

Appearing at Mr. Huckabee's side during a meeting here with supportive Web loggers, Mr. Norris complained forcefully about references to the former Arkansas governor's background as a minister.

"They're calling Mike Huckabee a Baptist minister. It's like they're trying to say, 'Well, Mike Huckabee is currently a preacher. He's stepping down from the pulpit so he can run for president." Mr. Norris said before heading to a "Huck and Chuck" rally nearby last night. "Give me a break. You know this guy has been governor — lieutenant governor and governor for over 12 years in Arkansas. I don't call him Pastor Mike. I call him Governor Mike."

At first, Mr. Norris's anger seemed directed at the press or pundits, but then the action-film star lit into Mr. Romney for describing Mr. Huckabee as a preacher. "Get off of it. I don't know how long Romney's been governor, but I'm sure he's been governor as long as Romney has," Mr. Norris said.

After a blogger suggested that the actor and martial-arts aficionado deliver a "roundhouse kick" to Mr. Romney, Mr. Norris replied, "I don't roundhouse kick. I choke. … I'd just like to choke those guys out.

"I hate the negative campaigning," Mr. Norris said, making clear his message was directed to Mr. Romney, who has spent millions on television ads challenging Mr. Huckabee's record in Arkansas on criminal justice, immigration, and other issues.

Mr. Huckabee is looking to renew his momentum after a bizarre press conference Monday where he disavowed a negative ad his campaign had prepared — and then promptly had it played for the reporters in attendance. A Republican political consultant who recently joined the Huckabee campaign, Ed Rollins, acknowledged that the episode did not reflect well on the former Arkansas governor's seat-of-his-pants candidacy.

"Would we rather have not had yesterday? You betcha," Mr. Rollins told reporters yesterday.

Asked repeatedly if he agreed with his candidate's decision not to lash back at Mr. Romney, Mr. Rollins would not answer directly, but he suggested that he did not. "There was a moment there. 'Let's not turn the other cheek. Let's go punch back,' which is always my indication," the strategist said. He said there was "no argument" after the former governor rejected the plan. "We just said, 'Fine, sir.'"

Mr. Rollins said the decision reminded him of President Reagan's unwillingness to follow campaign advice that made him ill at ease. Mr. Huckabee "is probably the finest candidate I've been with since Reagan," Mr. Rollins aid. "This is a guy who knows who he is. If a campaign ever gets in front of a candidate or a candidate is not comfortable with the strategy, they're not going to do well. "

The flap over the rejected-but-released ad came as some polls showed Mr. Romney retaking a lead in Iowa. He had 31% support in an CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released yesterday, up 6% from two weeks ago. Mr. Huckabee had 28%, down 5%. The poll's sampling error was 5%.