Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is making his pitch to be John McCain's running mate.

Huckabee, appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," said besides himself, he was rooting for McCain to be the presidential nominee, and "there's no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain."

As to whether McCain would actually pick the former Arkansas governor as a vice presidential candidate, Huckabee said only McCain can decide whether that's the best thing for him, but he will support him in any case.

"We are in crisis.  We are in crisis with $4 a gallon gasoline, we're in crisis with small businesses who can't barely get through their government paperwork, and I believe that right now, in a time of crisis, we don't need to test drive, we need to make sure that we've got a reliable person in that chair, and that's John McCain," he said.

Huckabee had strong support from religious conservatives while in the race for the Republican nomination, and said the response to a recent flyer distributed in Kentucky appealing to evangelical voters by showing Democrat Barack Obama speaking with a cross behind him shows a double standard in the country.

"I took grief for months, I'm still taking it, over something that wasn't even a cross.  It was a bookshelf, for heaven's sakes.  It really was a bookshelf.  It, it shows, though, that there are two sets of rules that sometimes we play by.  And if Republicans even get near a church, we're accused of embracing it," he said, adding that he's happy Obama is talking about his faith.

"I am refreshed by it, I applaud him for it, I welcome it.  I think it's an appropriate thing, because he is a person of faith.  He's being honest with the people.  I've always said that's the only thing that matters is authenticity and honesty.  If you are a person of faith, let us know that.  If you're not, be honest and say, 'That's just not that important to me.' I can still vote for you, if you aren't.  What I can't do is vote for you if you're not honest with me," Huckabee said.

Huckabee also apologized for a remark he made Friday to the National Rifle Association. Responding to an offstage noise during a speech, Huckabee said it was Obama diving to the floor after someone had aimed a gun at him.

Huckabee called the comment a "dumb, off-the-cuff remark." He promised it won't be the last one he makes.

"This wasn't funny, I'll be the first to tell you that. Shouldn't have said it.  I apologize.  I don't know what else I can do," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.