“Several hundred people arrived today at the Elkhart RV/MH Hall of Fame to see former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee tape an episode of his news program “Huckabee. ”

Cars started lining up to enter the Hall of Fame’s parking lot at about 11:30 a. m. About 400 seats are available for those who requested them in advance, while other spectators will have to stand to watch the show, which is to air at 8 p. m. . today on the Fox News channel.

Ronald Barger, spokesman for the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County, said the public interest is beyond what he expected. Organizers had to move the event outside the facility, at the Indiana Toll Road and County Road 17, to accommodate the larger-than-anticipated crowd.

Diana Engle, vice president of administration at Bennington Marine, an Elkhart-based boat maker, said she came to the taping because she wants to hear what Huckabee has to say.

The economic recession has forced her company to lay off 200 of its 335 employees, she said. ”