LITTLE ROCK - Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Friday sought to explain why he doesn't believe in evolution, saying he is not opposed to teaching Darwin's theory.

Huckabee was one of three GOP candidates who raised their hand during Thursday's debate when asked if they don't believe in evolution - the development of organisms and species from a primitive state.

The other candidates were Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado.

Huckabee said if given a chance to elaborate on the question from MSNBC moderator Chris Matthews, he would have responded: "If you want to believe that you and your family came from apes, I'll accept that….I believe there was a creative process."

Huckabee said he has no problem with teaching evolution as a theory in the public schools and he doesn't expect schools to teach creationism.

"We shouldn't indoctrinate kids in school," he said. "I wouldn't want them teaching creationism as if it's the only thing that they should teach."

Also, students should be given credit for having the intelligence to think through various theories for themselves and come to their own conclusions, he said.

He said it was his responsibility to teach his children his beliefs though he could accept that others believe in evolution.

"I believe that there is a God and that he put the process in motion," Huckabee said.

The former Arkansas governor said about the evolution question: "I'm not sure what in the world that has to do with being president of the United States."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson apologized for saying an employer should be allowed to fire a gay worker solely for being gay.

Thompson said he had misunderstood a question Thursday during a GOP candidates' debate in California. The question: "If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?"

His response: "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be."

Asked if his answer was yes, Thompson said, "Yes."

On Friday, Thompson told CNN he should have asked the moderator to repeat the question.

"I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question," Thompson said in a telephone interview. "I didn't hear, I didn't hear the question properly and I apologize."

Thompson spokesman Tony Jewell said the former Wisconsin governor does not believe any form of discrimination in the workplace is justified.

"His long record reflects that belief," Jewell said.

Associated Press Writer Libby Quaid in Washington contributed to this report.