Huckabee Vows to Support McCain Regardless of His Veep's Abortion Stance

From CBS News' Michelle Levi:

(WASHINGTON) - Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said he hopes John McCain will pick an anti-abortion rights running mate but that he would support the party's nominee regardless of his vice presidential pick.

"I hope that Senator McCain selects a pro-life running mate," the former Arkansas governor said at a press conference with evangelical leaders.

"If he doesn't I will take some comfort in him being pro-life and hope that he would make sure that whoever his running mate may be would commit also to not changing any of the policies."

"I don't know how people will respond," if McCain chooses a pro-choice running mate such as [Former Pennsylvania Gov.] Tom Ridge or [Independent U.S. Sen.] Joe Lieberman, Huckabee said. "I do believe that if there is a very clear contrast in that one candidate takes a solid pro-life position and the other takes a position that is anything but, it will be bring a coaltion of pro-life people to that candidate."

He then joked, "If I were really good at predicting what would happen in the election, I would be out on the campaign trail as the Republican nominee."

Earlier this week, Huckabee suggested former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., might not be the best choice for McCain either, telling CBS News, "It has everything to do with inconsistencies in positions he's held, and that's it."

Huckabee said politics is "not always about getting everything you want" but that as a Republican candidate he made "a commitment" to support the party's nominee and said he intends to do just that regardless of the candidate's choice of running mates.

He also praised Barack Obama, admitting how proud he is as an American and a Southerner to live in a country with an African American presidential nominee. However he abruptly stopped his complimenting and said that this is not about electing "a figure who has done something wonderful and symbolic."

Huckabee's admission of support for McCain comes the day before both McCain and Obama prepare to address evangelical Christians at Saddleback Church.