LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Sen. Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
Hearing a loud noise and interrupting his speech, the former Arkansas governor said: “That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He’s getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he — he dove for the floor.”
There were only a few murmurs in the crowd after the remark.
The Obama campaign had no comment.
Later yesterday, Mr. Huckabee issued a statement saying that he responded to the noise with “an offhand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama. I apologize that my comments were offensive, that was never my intention.”
Mr. Huckabee, who sought the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, won the leadoff Iowa caucuses and seven other states. But he dropped out after Sen. John McCain, the likely nominee, piled up a series of big victories. He and former Republican candidate Mitt Romney addressed the NRA convention yesterday as did Mr. McCain.
Mr. Huckabee’s comments came during a nearly 20-minute speech in which he criticized the Democratic presidential candidates, saying neither Mr. Obama nor rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would fight to defend an individual’s right to own a gun.
“I’m not sure Senator Obama or Senator Clinton really get it,” Mr. Huckabee said.
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