Huckabee pulls attack ad

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- U.S presidential contender Mike Huckabee pulled a negative campaign ad against fellow Republican Mitt Romney Monday but not before showing it to reporters.

The ad questioned the former Massachusetts governor's record on immigration, taxes, crime fighting and healthcare, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, Saturday denounced political attack ads, saying he hoped the negative ad produced by his own campaign would not be aired publicly.

"We all can talk about changing the tone of politics and the direction and the way we elect our officials," Huckabee said.

"And sometimes we talk about it and then we end up doing the same things, and at some point we have to decide, can we change the kind of politics and the level of discourse, and so I've got to believe that we can but it's got to start somewhere, and so it might as well start here and it might as well start with me."

Asked if he thought Romney was fit to be president, Huckabee told reporters, "Voters can make that decision."

Huckabee's decision to withdraw the ad comes as polls in Iowa show Romney is regaining his lead, the newspaper reported.