CNN | Political Ticker

(CNN) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a warning for Sarah Palin: Don’t abandon the Republican Party.

The former presidential candidate and potential future White House rival of Palin’s said Tuesday he’s concerned about speculation the Alaska governor may leave the GOP to become an independent.

“I hope she remains — let me be real clear — a part of the Republican Party,” Huckabee told FOX News. “I’m a little concerned when I hear her say that she may sort of branch out and go third party or go independent. That would be a big mistake because we need to rebuild the Republican Party, not abandon it.”