Mike Huckabee will skip a Baptist conference organized by Jimmy Carter in response to the former president's full frontal attack on George W. Bush.

Huckabee released a statement that reads, in part:

While I continue to have great respect for President Carter as a fellow Christian believer and Baptist, I'm deeply disappointed by the unusually harsh comments made in my state this past weekend regarding President Bush, and feel that it represents an unprecedented personal attack on a sitting president by a former president which is unbecoming the office as well as unbecoming to one whose conference is supposed to be about civility and bringing people together.

President Carter violated an unspoken code that you don't make personal attacks on others who currently hold the job -- you just don't.

I tentatively agreed to participate in the Baptist meeting with the understanding that it was a celebration of faith and not a political convocation. In light of the program and roster of speakers, as well as the very harsh comments toward our president this weekend, I feel it would be best for me to decline the invitation and to not appear to be giving approval to what could be a political, rather than spiritual agenda.

This is a smart, if somewhat easy call for Huckabee to make.

In general, Huckabee continues to impress with the way he is running his campaign - not only the points he makes but the tone he strikes in making them. Whether that will translate into increased money and support in Iowa and New Hampshire is another story.