Huckabee Supports Efforts To Keep Romney From VP Slot

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee thinks having former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the vice presidential nominee is a bad idea, but not because Romney is a Mormon.

"I think a lot of people, not just social conservatives, but a lot of the Republicans I know are not necessarily comfortable with Romney," he told CBS. "But it has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with inconsistencies in positions he's held, and that's it."

Huckabee, a former Baptist minister whose long-shot presidential campaign was kept alive mainly by support from Evangelicals, was commenting on organized efforts by some of his backers in Michigan and Ohio to urge Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) not to choose Romney as running mate.

McCain told the Weekly Standard on Wednesday that he was open to choosing a vice presidential nominee who supports abortion.

Several current and former Republican officials have been reported to be in the running as McCain's vice president, including Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Romney, a former CEO of Bain and Co. who ended his bid for the Republican nomination in February, is reportedly on top of the shortlist. Pundits regard him as a good match for McCain, who has struggled to change perceptions that he is less adept on economic issues than Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

But many critics have also cited Romney's being a Mormon as a huge obstacle to his political aspirations. He has also been repeatedly criticized for changing his views on abortion and gay marriages; he initially supported abortion and same-sex unions but is now opposed to both. His home state of Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriages.

A conservative political action committee, Government Is Not God, said as early as March that Romney "utterly unacceptable"as a vice presidential nominee.

Huckabee ended his bid for the Republican nomination in March after losing considerable support among Evangelical voters to former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who is known for his opposition to abortion. He surprised everyone by winning the first contest of the primary season in Iowa, but failed to follow up with any other victories.