Thu, Sep 4, 2008 4:35pm ET

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AP doesn't challenge Huckabee's claim that Palin "got more votes" than Biden, despite having previously called it a "whopper"

Summary: The Associated Press reported Mike Huckabee's claim that Gov. Sarah Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States." The AP did not challenge the claim despite its characterization of the claim in a separate "fact check" as a "whopper" because, according to the AP, Palin received a total 1,525 votes during her two runs for mayor while Biden received 76,165 votes in the 2008 Democratic primaries.

A September 4 Associated Press article by Glen Johnson reported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's claim that Gov. Sarah Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than [Sen.] Joe Biden got running for president of the United States." Johnson did not challenge the claim, despite the AP's characterization of the claim in a September 3 "fact check" as a "whopper." In that article, reporter Jim Kuhnhenn wrote: "Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries."

From the September 4 AP article:

Meanwhile, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, known for his wit and humor on the trail, rebuffed those who questioned Palin's experience.

"I want to tell you folks something," said Huckabee. "She got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

From the September 3 AP "fact check" by Jim Kuhnhenn:

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

—T.A.

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