Mike Huckabee

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Mike Huckabee is ecstatic about John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as his running mate.

"The dynamics of this election have been turned on their head," said the former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate.

"She looks like Tina Fey, has the accent of Florence Henderson and kicks tail like Chuck Norris," Huckabee told the Maryland delegation during breakfast on Thursday.

Huckabee claimed he saw fear in U.S. Sen. Joe Biden's (D-Del.) eyes on TV while discussing Palin's Wednesday night speech at the Republican National Convention.

A group of state Republican leaders and activists who supported various presidential candidates early in the primary process have formed a “unity team” as a suggested fusion slate to represent Maryland at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“The idea is to bring everyone on board in support of Sen. (John) McCain,” Corey Stottlemyer, the former political director of the state Republican party and unity team member, said.

Chris Cavey, the first vice chairman of the state party, is leading the effort.

“We have presented the unity team as a suggestion for those who do not necessarily have a ballot,” Cavey said.

The plan is not endorsed by Jim Pelura, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.

“The Maryland Republican Party does not have slate,” Pelura told PolitickerMD.com.

Jim Pelura, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, said Justin Ready, the chief of staff to state Sen. Janet Greeinp (R-Crofton), was the "right fit" to become the new executive director of the state party. This morning, Pelura announced that Ready had been selected to replace John Flynn.

"I rely on my first impression," Pelura said of his decision. "All the candidates were well qualified, but Justin is the right one."

"I'm very happy to be asked to serve," Ready told PolitickerMD.com. "I'm excited to continue the process of working with the chairman to make Maryland a two-party state again."

Justin Ready, the chief of staff to state Sen. Janet Greenip (R-Crofton), told PolitickerMD.com that he is one of 14 candidates seeking to become the next executive director of the Maryland Republican Party.

Ready, 26, said that he’s “had a lot of experience in the last five years,” and said he did not think his youth would hurt his chances at securing the position.

Ready has been with Greenip for the past 18 months. Before that, he was the statewide field director on state Sen. E.J. Pipkin’s (R-Stevensville) 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. He also worked for Del. J.B. Jennings (R-District 7) and was a volunteer on Bob Ehrlich’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

Recently, Ready served as the “state grassroots leader” on Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign.

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told PolitickerMD.com today that he would give “high consideration” to accepting a cabinet position if Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is elected president in November and offers the Marylander a seat.

“I’d look to help Sen. McCain in any way possible,” Steele said when asked if he would be interested in the vice presidency or any other cabinet position.

Initially, Steele said the idea was “so not on the page,” saying he was focused on his responsibilities as chairman of GOPAC, the conservative political action committee (PAC) that trains Republican candidates to run for elected office.

When asked if he would rule out the notion, however, Steele said, “No.”

“My mother taught me that you don’t rule anything out,” he added.

It was then that Steele mentioned his high regards for McCain, and after saying he would have to discuss the idea of a cabinet position with his family, Steele acknowledged that he would highly consider the opportunity.

The former lieutenant governor also weighed-in on the defeat of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) in Maryland’s Feb. 12 congressional primary.

John McCain utterly flattened Mike Huckabee in almost every single demographic voting in today’s Republican primary, exit polls show.

The only exception came with those who attend religious services at least once a week – especially Protestants. Self-described Evangelical Christians (31% of the total) went for Huckabee, 52% to 35%.

Another interesting caveat: McCain easily won those who frequently or occasionally listen to conservative talk radio – estimated to be 62% of GOP primary-goers.

Mike Huckabee is up nine points in three days according to a SurveyUSA poll of 338 likely Republican voters. John McCain is down four points at 52%, but still leading Huckabee’s 26%, by a ratio of 2:1.

The poll was conducted this weekend – during which Huckabee claimed surprising victories in Kansas and Louisiana, while coming close in Washington State. The margin of error is 5.2%.

Janet Huckabee, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, is campaigning in Maryland today.

Huckabee attended a coffee and what organizers called a “morning shoot” with the North American Rod and Gun Club in Hagerstown earlier this morning.

She will be making stops later today in Ellicott City, Baltimore, and Annapolis.

A newly released Mason-Dixon poll conducted for MSNBC shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton, 53% to 35%, while John McCain keeps ahead of Mike Huckabee, 54% to 23%.

The survey shows Obama winning with men, women, and African Americans while the candidates are in a statistical tie for white voters. McCain easily leads Huckabee in every demographic.

The poll of 400 Democrats and 400 Republicans took place from Feb. 7 and 8, and has a 5% margin of error. Ron Paul also scores 7% in the Republican field, but has turned his focus to maintaining his Texas seat in the House of Representatives.