The Republican presidential primary
race will heat up in Wisconsin this week with former Arkansas Gov.
Mike Huckabee planning several stops in the state, including one in
Madison Thursday morning.

Huckabee will hold a rally at 7 p.m.
Wednesday in Pewaukee and will visit La Crosse or Eau Claire and
Green Bay following the Madison stop Thursday, according to his
campaign?s Wisconsin blog. Further details about the visits are not
yet available.

UW senior Liz Planton is a Huckabee
supporter, but she said she?s learned Madison is ?not necessarily
where a conservative candidate should come to campaign? after being
a political conservative on campus for four years.

?I’m not necessarily bummed about
Huckabee’s chances in Wisconsin ? he’ll put up a fight, that’s for
sure, but I’m certainly expecting a McCain win in a week,? Planton
said in an e-mail. ?

Ten Wisconsin legislators announced
their endorsement Monday for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who leads
Huckabee by 584 delegates.

After hitting a rough spot during
earlier caucuses, Wisconsin legislators agree that McCain is the
candidate most likely to win the Republican party?s nomination.

Rep. Jeffrey Stone, R-Greendale, said,
?Some of [the state legislators] have been watching the race, and
waiting to announce our commitment; it?s pretty clear that McCain
will win the nomination, and will be good for the country in a number
of ways.?

Many Wisconsin Democratic legislators
announced their endorsements weeks ago; Gov. Jim Doyle has shown
long-standing and vocal support for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the
presidential race, while Lt. Gov. Barbra Lawton is heavily involved
in the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Sixteen Democratic state legislators
endorsed Obama last week. Meanwhile, Republicans have kept their
distance, holding back from early endorsements.

Rep. Jim Ott, however, said the time is
right to endorse McCain.

?The primary process is really
important; it?s a chance for the people to speak,? said Rep. Jim
Ott, R-Mequon. ?I hesitated to endorse, but now the voters have
spoken, and it is time to rally around the Republican candidate.?

Key issues surrounding the Wisconsin
state legislators? decision to endorse McCain include foreign
policy, fiscal responsibility and Supreme Court nominations.
Legislators described McCain as a ?true American hero who
understands the threat posed to our country by international
terrorism,? in a statement, and continued to voice support of
McCain?s anti-abortion rights and pro-Second Amendment stances.