Kucinich to Mars

Mike Huckabee had a little fun at Dennis Kucinich's expense while campaigning in Iowa Wednesday.

Answering a question about a manned mission to Mars during a Q&A in Vinton, Iowa, Huckabee said he didn't really have a position on whether to pursue it.

But, he added: "If we ever do a manned mission to Mars, we've got the first astronaut lined up: Dennis Kucinich! He's already seen UFOs! He's plugged in!"

Big laughs from the mostly Republican crowd, remembering the recent Democratic debate in which Kucinich said he once saw a UFO.

"Let me be on the record," Huckabee said. "Have not seen UFO."

It reminded this reporter of a raucous Dick Gephardt rally in Mason City, Iowa, in 2004, when Gephardt mocked Bush's then-recently announced plan for a mission to Mars. The well-lubricated union crowd immediately began chanting "Send Bush to Mars! Send Bush to Mars!"