Mike Huckabee's doctors gave him a choice: lose weight or die.

So the Arkansas governor shed 110 pounds, got into good enough shape to complete a marathon, and wrote a book about weight loss.

Along the way, he says, he hoped to inspire his constituents to get healthy, too.

Huckabee began his career behind the pulpit as a Baptist pastor.

He was governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2006.

Huckabee favors President Bush's plan to create a legal path to U.S. citizenship for some illegal immigrants.

He's called suggestions from members of his own party to deport all illegal immigrants "unworkable."

The governor is against cutting funds for the Iraq war.

He's voiced qualified support for the administration's policy in Iraq, including a proposal to increase troop levels.

Huckabee has signed a pledge not to raise taxes.

He also supports a proposal to do away with income taxes and other taxes and instead use a national retail sales tax.