Huckabee will test the waters when he returns home to Little Rock December 12-13 to address the Arkansas Renewal Project, part of evangelical organizer David Lane’s American Renewal Project. Huckabee had the support of pastors in his 2008 fight against eventual winner Sen. John McCain.

Among the potential candidates looking at a GOP bid, Huckabee is closest to the pastors. He is a social conservative who can quote the Bible as easy as former President Bill Clinton.

According to reports, pastors from Iowa and South Carolina–two key political states early in the GOP primary season–are meeting with Huckabee during the convention to urge him to run.