The GOP primary calendar is tailor-made for John McCain, who continues to pile up institutional support thanks to his strong adoption of the Bush agenda and portfolio of wars.
However, if anyone can take a bite out of the McCain Pander Express, it's Mike Huckabee. And he just showed that one of the potential roadblocks to a serious bid -- money -- can be overcome.
Enough people can apparently relate to Huckabee's message to bring in more than a $500,000 for his political action committee at a gala last night in Little Rock.
The affair was a test of his fundraising ability for a potential White House run. Huckabee said the event was to raise money for his PAC and not for a presidential campaign, but 2008 was clearly on the minds of many people attending the fundraiser.
Stickers saying "Mike Huckabee President'' were seen throughout the ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center. The governor, however, said they weren't an indication that he was definitely running.
Meanwhile, another southern Governor -- former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating -- is testing the waters for a stab at the Republican nomination. He apparently didn't get the memo ordering everyone to stand down for McCain.