PEWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is defending his decision to leave the campaign trail days before Wisconsin's primary to give a paid speech in the Cayman Islands.
Huckabee says he will speak Saturday to a group of young professionals in the Caribbean because he needs to make a living and the event has been on his schedule for months.
Huckabee greeted supporters at a rally in Pewaukee last evening and plans to campaign today in Madison, La Crosse, Wausau and Green Bay. After a campaign breakfast Friday in Brookfield, he plans to leave for the speech. He says he'll return to Wisconsin Sunday for more campaigning.
The former Arkansas governor told reporters he makes his living by his writing and speaking.
He says that's unlike his Republican opponent John McCain as well as Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. As U.S. senators, all three get taxpayer-funded salaries.
Oh yes ... the forecast in the Caymans is for sunshine and temperatures in the 80s.
