After news reporters called McCain the winner of the Washington Republican caucus with only 87% of the precincts reported, Huckabee disputed the results. He noted that the state had not counted 1,500 delegates and there were “obvious irregularities” in the Republican caucuses. This prompted the state to count more votes (93% of the precincts reported), but ultimately the state still declared McCain the winner with 25% vs. Huckabee’s 24%. However, the Huckabee campaign remains optimistic. Looking ahead to the important Texas primary, the campaign expects great results and perhaps the ability to stop McCain’s great momentum. Huckabee told reporters “we have a real shot in Texas because Texas is a very conservative state”. However, it is very unlikely that Huckabee who has only 217 delegates (McCain has 830) will become the Republican nomination. Huckabee needs 974 more delegates, while McCain only needs 361 more.
Moreover, this weekend Huckabee spoke at a young leadership award banquet in the Cayman Islands for money. This trip had nothing to do with Huckabee’s quest for the Republican presidential nomination. However, Huckabee defended this trip affirming, “The taxpayers aren't paying a dime for me to campaign and I don't take anything from my campaign so I have to make a living.” In addition, Huckabee claims that he is paying for Senator Clinton, Obama, and McCain’s campaigns asserting an interesting argument, “I’m a taxpayer and I have to pay for their Senate salaries even if they’re not on duty”.
The following question remains constantly on my mind. When will Huckabee drop out of the race for president? Huckabee recently affirmed, “I am still in this race. As I have said all along, I am in this race until someone gets to 1,191 delegates. That has not happened yet, and so I will keep campaigning for the Republican nomination. Period. That’s my ironclad commitment to my supporters.” Will Huckabee honor this commitment, or will he drop out soon, realizing the inevitability of receiving the Republican nomination? We just have to wait and see…
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2 comments:
It's doubtful that Huckabee will prove much of a threat to the McCain momentum. Already, the GOP and the media are portraying John McCain as the clear victor and Republican General Election Candidate. For the sake of unifying the progressive republicans with the religious, traditional ones, Huckabee should endorse McCain and drop the primary, although its doubtful that he'll drop out before McCain wins the sufficient amount of delegates to be 'declared' victor. What is becoming more evident, is that Huckabee is fighting to voice the issues of his constituents; those that will prove influential in the General Election. That's the kind of fight that will last Huck until the end of the race.
P.S. - Huckabee, influential? This country scares me.
It would be beneficial to the Republican Party for Huckabee to drop out and endorse McCain. However, I think it would be difficult for Huckabee to endorse McCain because they are very ideologically and politically different. Although, whether or not Huckabee endorses McCain, McCain will win the nomination. Therefore, I suggest that Huckabee should drop out (therefore stop wasting money). Instead of endorsing McCain, Huckabee should let his fellow Republican voters decide whether to vote for McCain or not vote at all.
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