In front of an audience of 60,000 today, former Republican presidential candidate and preacher Mike Huckabee, joked about Barack Obama getting shot. The sold-out crowd at the 137th annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention laughed in response.

The former Arkansas governor (who, rumor has it is on John McCain's shortlist for VP) was warming up the crowd for the Republican nominee when a loud noise went off back-stage.

"That was Barack Obama," Huckabee said. "He just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak. Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor."

Blog sites are already blowing up. "Is that a white hood sticking out of the Huckster's back pocket?" asks Lee, on The Hill.

And Blackwolf on Americanblog writes "What you're looking at is deep seated racism. This is no joke, and it amazes me that he would think it possibly could be. When these idiots are in an environment that feels safe and comfortable, they'll say exactly what's on their minds without batting an eye."

So are we to take this "joke" as the "R" Party throwing the race card this early in the game?

Or is it that Republicans are nervous about Obama's fundraising dollars already in the bank? And on top of that the popular vote too?

Hmm... Money + Popular Vote= Nervous Elephant!

Angela Woodson is cofounder of B.U.I.L.D Ohio and former Political Director for Ohio governor, Ted Strickland