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Mike Huckabee continues to be the the clear front runner in "VP-poll-ooza." With almost 90 percent of those who responded to the Star's online poll saying that they preferred the former governor of Arkansas to be the running mate of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona, we suspect ballot-box stuffing.

This is an unscientific for-fun-only poll, and reflects the opinions of those who choose to participate. Huckabee fans are definitely choosing to participate.

On the Democratic side, preference for the contenders for the No. 2 position to presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois are more evenly distributed.

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York remain near the head of the pack. Interestingly, J.C. Watts jumped out in front.

Watts — you'd use your initials too if your name was Julius Caesar — is a former congressman from Oklahoma. He was a quarterback for the University of Oklahoma, a Baptist youth minister and is a business strategy consultant.

Here's the jaw-dropping part — he's a conservative Republican. His name below Obama's would make a fascinating, bipartisan ticket.

Here is what one poll respondent said about Watts:

● I would be more than pleased to see the charismatic, young, former U.S. representative and rising political star as the vice presidential nominee, though I would be very surprised to see it underneath the name of Barack Obama.

Watts is a strong conservative Republican and he chose not to join the Congressional Black Caucus. It was Watts who said Democrats had become 'race-hustling poverty pimps' whose political careers depended upon keeping blacks on government welfare. I don't think he'd be overly fond of Obama though I hope McCain might consider him.

Several readers also suggested a another Republican matchup with Obama — Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. One reader said:

● Obama-Hagel will shock the world into what Obama is after — unity, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding. But more importantly, getting things done across party lines, against propped up cultural wars, against negative, fear-mongering, divide-and-conquer- politics.

Comments on other Democratic VP possibilities included:

● Hillary Clinton would have beaten Obama if primaries had not all been clumped at the first of year. She knows foreign leaders and world politics much better than he does and can bring her 18 million votes.

● Retired Gen. Wesley Clark is an experienced leader and he knows who the best military strategic analysts are. If McCain chooses Mitt Romney and Obama chooses Clark — although I'm a Republican and don't approve of Obama — I'll vote Democratic for Clark.

Comments on Huckabee as a running mate included:

● Huckabee would bring a ready-made grassroots organization with him who will fight to bring social conservatives on board with the Grand Old Party this fall. These folks are a huge voting bloc and unless they have a candidate they can really get behind, they will stay home this November. The GOP cannot afford that.

● McCain needs Huckabee to win the South. Huckabee is real. Besides, he has grassroots savvy, and a grassroots army of followers, just waiting in the wings to be called to duty.

● Huckabee is the best candidate. He is smart, energetic, caring, thoughtful, and conservative.

● I will only vote for McCain if Mike Huckabee is his running mate.

● Huckabee would help define McCain's administration as different, especially in relation to taxes.

● McCain has no chance without Huckabee. He would bring excitement to an otherwise boring and "same ole same ole" candidate.

Other comments on the Republican veep possibilities included:

● Michael Steele, Maryland's Republican lieutenant governor, is a strong conservative who can carry the eastern and black vote.

● Former Secretary of State Colin Powell would bring strong military advice and intelligence.

● Former Assistant Secretary of State Alan Keyes is very much on target with the truth, almost as much as Huckabee.

● Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would appeal to disenchanted Hillary voters. She's the antithesis of Hillary, but so many supporters seemed to be consumed with electing a woman.

A couple of names we've added to the list from reader suggestion:

● Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House, is a well-known and well-liked politician. He can help McCain get votes that McCain wouldn't get on his own.

● Fred Thompson, former senator from Tennessee, would be an excellent choice — he would appeal to Southern voters and federalist conservatives who feel alienated with McCain as the Republican nominee.

And this comment from an individual who seems to be stuck in the 1950s:

● No women, please, even Palin. This country must be led by a man and not a woman.