Cardinal Nation - you have a kindred spirit on the presidential campaign trail, even if he became a Redbird by necessity.

Republican Mike Huckabee on Tuesday was accepting the endorsement of Van Meter, Iowa native Bob Feller - a former power pitcher for the Cleveland Indians known as the “Heater from Van Meter” - when the ex-Arkansas governor was asked his preference in baseball teams.

Here’s what he said, according to The Caucus blog at The New York Times:

Growing up, Mr. Huckabee said, he was a St. Louis Cardinals fan because St. Louis was geographically closest to his hometown of Hope, Ark. He often listened on the radio when Bob Gibson was pitching, he said.

“But of course, that was before the Texas Rangers and the Astros existed,” he said, “so really it was St. Louis or nothing.”

Even so, Huckabee is enough of a Cardinals fan that he was at Old Busch Stadium for the final game of the 2004 World Series - the one that didn’t turn out so well for the home team, even if everyone else seemed to enjoy the outcome.

“I was thinking I wanted the Cardinals to win, but if Boston wins, I’m thinking, “This is going to be the biggest story in sports history, and I’ll be here to see it,’” Huckabee told the Caucus.

Rooting for the Red Sox over your favorite team? Sounds like he’s taken a page from the Rudy Giuliani playbook.