SPARTANBURG -- Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee continued the early parade of possible 2008 presidential candidates to South Carolina, telling local Republicans Monday night success would flow from a healthy economy, education and electoral process.

Meeting with reporters before the Spartanburg GOP convention, the 10-year governor and Baptist minister predicted that President Bush's low approval numbers and congressional scandals won't drag Republicans down in November.

"These things come in cycles, and I honestly believe it's better to have these kinds of dips now than in November. It doesn't make sense why the numbers are off because the economic figures are astounding and our GDP is strong," he said.

When the American public learns about the "significant level of progress being made in the transition in Iraq," there will be an uptick in Republican political fortunes, Huckabee said.

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With an eye toward this state's early and traditionally decisive primary, Huckabee is among at least seven potential contenders who have already made multiple trips.

Last October, when he addressed a state GOP event on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, Huckabee sloughed off questions about his intentions, saying he had 18 months to decide. Monday night, wearing a blue tie with gray elephants, he said a year from now "will be just about right."