Huckabee to Pick Up Black Endorsement

ATLANTA (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is set to pick up the endorsement of a conservative black church leader on Martin Luther King Day.

The Reverend Bill Owens, leader of the Coalition of African American Pastors, cited Huckabee's strong track record as governor of Arkansas in promoting blacks to board posts and embracing racial reconciliation.

Owens says he was not bothered by Huckabee's recent statements in South Carolina about the Confederate flag. Huckabee says it should be up to South Carolina whether to fly the symbol -- of racism to some, Southern pride to others -- over the state Capitol dome.

Huckabee is set to attend the Martin Luther King Day services at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. He's the only one of the presidential candidates who'll be there Monday.

Former President Bill Clinton will attend the tribute on behalf of his wife. U.S. Senator Barack Obama is set to address the congregation there tomorrow, the day before the King Day services.