Translating Huck

Mike Huckabee sounded off earlier today on immigration, saying the U.S. should take a break -- "a hiatus" -- from allowing entry to people from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism.

His remark, an aside during a campaign stop in South Carolina, could be viewed as an effort to differentiate himself from John McCain on the immigration issue. In a shout out to conservative Republicans, Huck's taking a hard right on a matter about which McCain is decidedly out of sync with GOPers.

The Huckabee edict, let's call it, would forbid entry to folks from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria, the five nations listed on the Secretary of State's watch list.

"He's talking about making sure that countries that have country-sponsored terrorists don't get Visas into our country," said Chip Saltzman, Huck's campaign manager, in an interview on MSNBC.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)