Huckabee: 'I apologize that my comments were offensive.'

Earlier today, while speaking at the NRA convention in Louisville, KY, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made an offhand joke after being interrupted by an offstage nice. In his joke, Huckabee claimed that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) "dove for the floor" when "somebody aimed a gun at him." Huckabee has released a statement apologizing for the remark:

During my speech at the NRA a loud noise backstage, that sounded like a chair falling, distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made 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.

Obama was placed under secret service protection last year — the earliest ever for a U.S. presidential candidate — because of racially motivated threats.