AP: You know who’s looking like a GOP frontrunner right now? Mike Huckabee

What color is the sky in your world, AP?

Huckabee’s value as a presidential candidate, however, has gotten a boost primarily from the downfall of others within the Republican Party. Admissions of affairs by Nevada Sen. John Ensign and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, both considered at one time potential GOP contenders, have helped Huckabee.

In other words, the Baptist minister with a covenant marriage is starting look a lot better by comparison.

Huckabee may also get some help from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s surprise announcement that she’ll step down as governor, midway through her first term, later this month. It’s unclear whether the former Republican vice presidential nominee’s announcement is a prelude to a 2012 bid, or an exit from politics entirely.

Huckabee says he’s still a fan of Palin, but questioned the Alaska governor’s move.

“Well, it’s a risky strategy, and nobody knows whether it’s going to pay off or not,” Huckabee said on “Fox News Sunday” earlier this month. “And even if she did get out, primarily because of a feeling of being chased, that’s not going to stop if she continues in politics. The only way that stops is for her to completely exit the stage and the spotlight.”

I like to goof with you guys about him being the nominee because I know it (inexplicably) torments you, but seriously: Assuming Romney runs, which is a near certainty, give me a scenario in which Huck tops him for the nomination. He’ll have his strongholds — Iowa, South Carolina, plenty of other southern states — but Romney will have the coasts, the northeast, lots of the midwest, most of the party bigwigs, all of talk radio, and a huge war chest on his side. He’ll also be seen as the “economy” candidate while Huck is pigeonholed as the social con. And needless to say, if Palin runs and pulls evangelicals away from him, Huck will be lucky to win a single primary. So I repeat the question. How does Huck win the nomination?

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