JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mike Huckabee says he must win Missouri's primary next week if he is to have a chance at the Republican nomination for president.

Polls showed the former Arkansas governor behind Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain heading into Tuesday's primary in Florida. To gain momentum, Huckabee said he must do well in the Southern and Midwestern states holding primaries on Feb. 5.

Huckabee told about 200 people at a Jefferson City campaign event: "But let me be very clear, we need Missouri to do it."

Huckabee highlighted his proposal to replace the federal income tax with what he calls a "fair tax" -- a 23 percent national sales tax.