McCain's camp sharpens its message to Huckabee

Publicly, John McCain keeps cutting Mike Huckabee some slack. But behind the scenes, in e-mails to the media and potential contributors, his staff is none too subtly driving home a simple notion: the Republican presidential race is over, and the former Arkansas governor needs to accept that.

McCain, at the start of his Tuesday night speech claiming victory in the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. primaries, commended Huckabee, saying his rival's "spirited campaign, many gifts as a communicator and advocate, and passionate supporters are a credit to him and our party."

Alluding to the relatively close contest in Virginia, McCain said Huckabee "certainly keeps things interesting, a little too interesting at times tonight, I must confess."

Of course, it's easier to be magnanimous when you're the winner, especially when, as was the case in Virginia's GOP race, a win -- regardless of how narrow -- gives you all the delegates at stake.

Today, during a make-nice session on Capitol Hill with fellow Republicans, McCain continued to make nice toward Huckabee, saying he respected his "right to continue in this race just as long as he wants to."

But McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, is making a point of cutting to the chase. In an e-mail he sent out Tuesday night, he first ...

congratulated Huckabee on his "strong showing" in Virginia. But the next sentence read: "John McCain will be the Republican nominee for president."

Today, an e-mail from Davis seeking donations from McCain supporters, included a chart showing that for Huckabee to grab the GOP nod, he would need to win 123% of the 774 convention delegates still at stake -- in other words, it is a mathematical impossibility.

McCain, by contrast, needs just 35% of those delegates to pass the magic number, according to Davis' calculation.

Huckabee, who received his bachelor's degree in religion, recently shrugged off such formulas with a characteristic quip, saying he majored in miracles, not math. And he headed to Wisconsin today, site of a primary next Tuesday. He speaks tonight at the Waukesha Country Inn and Springs in Pewaukee, and has four stops in the state scheduled for Thursday.

For all his talk about remaining a candidate because McCain hasn't officially crossed the delegate threshold and the prospect he broaches that perhaps the Arizona senator will fall short, forcing some sort of back-room dickering over the nomination, Huckabee is too savvy a pol to believe in such a supernatural scenario. He knows -- and other Republicans know -- that he's playing out an endgame in this year's contest with an eye on his future within the party.

With that in mind, we won't be surprised if he stays in the race through Texas' March 4 primary. Establishing a base of support in the Lone Star State, spotlighting his political skills for GOP leaders there and improving his standing among the rank-and-file would serve him well, for instance, in a 2012 presidential bid.

Assuming a lack of divine intervention, though, it's also a good bet that the McCain camp's patience toward him will reach an end on March 5 (if not before then).

-- Don Frederick 

Comments

[Dan Campbell]

We will not give up. We will fight this out until the end. Huckabee is down on delagates because of the unethical things Romney did.

Huckabee is still the best choice for us. Mathematically Huckabee and Mccain can still basically tie in delagate count.

We will stop Mccain, and then at the convention we will pick Huckabee. He is our only hope.

Huckabee for President!!!!!!!

[Spencer Fox]

As the majority of republicans are not exactly happy with the filthy mouthed old POW, lets keep things competitive.

A pathetic sportsman is one who quits before the game is over. The Republican nomination is NOT over. Huckabee will most likely take Texas and continue to gain more momentum.

McCain will most likely lose to Obama. People are tired of Washington insiders and want to see government really work more for the people. Raising taxes is not cool, nor is cutting taxes when the government is so heavily in debt.

Huckabee is the best candidate to represent the people of the United States of America. McCain has too many character flaws. If McCain were to win, then many republicans will most likely not vote.

Let's not stifle our democratic republic. Competition is good.

[JR]

So, I've been taking stock of this campaign and it appears we now have only a few remaining choices:

1) Barak Obama AKA: Talking plastic Ken doll from Barbie Mattel with a pull string and a talking head. "I don't have to say anything important because I've got charisma!" Has anyone tried to actually figure out what he's saying in all of that verbage on his website??

2) Hillary R. Clinton AKA: Witch with a B off camera and "Yes! We want Slick Willy and scandal back in the White House! Four more years!"

3) John McCain AKA: Grumpy Old Man --Better not cross him. And yes, he is THE establishment. No change foreseeable on the horizon. "Let's cut a deal. I'll sell out if you will make it look like I didn't." He's old, and he looks like death warmed over. Is that the face we want representing us oversees?

4.) Mike Huckabee AKA: Wallace and Grommit, down home preacher boy, funny. A great debater, but as wholesome and genuine as they come. Stands on what he believes. Isn't afraid to say he was wrong and fix it. The little engine that wouldn't quit. "I've never had it easy and I didn't expect this to be easy either."

These are the choices.
That's it.
Romney is NOT coming back, but the major conservative voices are still moping about it. Why are we still voting for him? At this point a vote for Romney truly is a vote for Obama. Why are we overlooking and mentally crossing off Huckabee? He's the best guy left of the bunch! The closest thing to a true conservative left.
Am I wrong??
I don't think he'd make such a terrible president, and I think he give the best enegy to a Dem/Repub debate. I'd love to see him come up from behind and give angry old man McCain a run for his money!! What a fabulous story! I'm rooting for Huckabee. It beats the hell out of moping.

[afisher]

I believe Huckabee is staying in to beat Mitt Romney's delegate count. He also wants the VP nod that I think which be a major mistake for McCain.

[Edith Edwards]

Huckabee does not need to 1) obtain enough delegates to win the race nor 2) have to rely on backroom dickering

all he needs to do (with Ron Paul) is to keep McCain from winning the magic number of delegates. . .

then, it goes to convention. And who knows what can happen there. This is truly still very possible.

It would be nice if the author would have been a little more honest with his report.

[gravel kucinich paul nader]

barack obama mike huckabee vs machine

huckabee obama:
we understand your disgust.
subversion of democracy.

know this:
gravel kucinich paul nader
will fight any ticket
with clinton or mccain on it.

your eyes & ears are open...

Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Dr Ron Paul Ralph Nader
united by truth elicit fear smear blacklist.

Too many lies,
democracy rising democracy now.
Rage against the machine.

Honesty compassion intelligence guts.

No more extortion blackmail bribery division.
Divided we fall.

[Beth]

How DARE McCain's henchmen disenfranchise the millions of conservative voters who will never vote for him! Huckabee supporters are more than aware of the mathematical logistics involved in garnering the 1191 delegates needed for the nomination- BUT, we also know that it is very much possible to prevent McCain from reaching that total, and force a brokered convention. That is the only fair and correct way for this process to conclude, because McCain has alienated conservatives, and we deserve a voice in the selection of the Republican candidate. Huckabee’s support is growing exponentially every day- more and more people are discovering that he is NOT just the choice of the religious right, but that his stands on illegal immigration (and excellent plan to fully address it) and Second Amendment rights and myriad others appeal to those who have carefully researched them, and are the best to take this country in the right direction. Help us to restore America’s economy. Help us to select a Republican candidate who CAN defeat the Democratic ticket in November…because McCain surely can’t.

[Ronald W. Sprague]

I believe most bloggers sstate their convictions based on politics as usual and do not fully understand a politician that means what he/she says.

Mike Huckabee said that he was going to stay in the race until someone got 1,191 delegates or that it goes to a brokered convention.

I don't understand why this is so hard to comprehend!

[cwajga]

A brokered convention would be the best thing for the Republican party. The party insiders need a wake-up call... they've been deaf to the ones already given.

This is not impossible, it's been done before. In fact, with the momentum Huckabee has (he came much closer in VA than anyone gave him a shot at) going to the convention without a candidate having the 1191 is looking more and more probable.

Huckabee is the most conservative voice in the race, and has been. He also resonates with moderates who lean socially conservative. He has run the most impressive, fiscally conservative race and energized his supporters in a way no other Republican candidate has (Ron Paul has come close...)

I believe, if McCain earns the Republican nomination, Obama will win the general election.

[Dan Campbell]

Mike Huckabee can still win:

How? By gaining a large amount of delagates and having a virtual tie with Mccain.

Actually if Huckabee gets the rest of the delagates, he can get more in count than Mccain. So it is not over.

We need to go out in swarms and vote for Huckabee. We can have the nominee that we choose.

[elizabeth sipfle]

What this reporter fails to realize is that it's not about "Math", it's about "Character". Huckabee supports are very likely to stay home -- they don't like McCain, Hillary or Obama. So, while Math may not be on Hucks side, his supporters ARE! And, they're not budging.

The GOP has a problem. They haven't addressed "Why" Huckabee has so much appeal. They keep saying it's those pesky "Evangelicals" -- but, I've read the exit polls and those Evangelicals are splitting their votes -- so, Huckabee's appeal cannot be dismissed as merely bringing out the Evangelical vote.

What you are seeing is a revolution -- the GOP faithful are not happy with the GOP Elite. We don't want a candidate "selected" for us -- and we really don't care for the Candidates who say and do anything to be elected. We are especially tired of candidates who refuse to listen to us -- remember the border fence -- just when are they going to build it????? "They" have stopped listening to "us" and stopped representing "us". And, you are witnessing the tug of war in this primary -- that's why Huckabee has so much support!

What the GOP has on its hands, is something they don't recognize -- a GOOD MAN. Which is why Huckabee appeals to so many GOOD PEOPLE. You don't see sleeze, and compromise when you look at Huckabee. You see a Good Man that is TRUSTWORTHY. A man whos political record is amazing -- taking a state from $200 million in debt and leaving it with $800 million in the bank. What Huckabee represents is HOPE!!!!

Now, that's Unique in Politics -- and that's why Huckabee has energized the Voters. McCain just doesn't have this appeal -- neither do the rest of the candidates. So, if the GOP would like to win the White House, they need to look to Huckabee. His supporters are Mobilized, and they're not budging. They are not ALL going to fall in line and vote for McCain, if he should win the nomination.

I do believe some will "hold their nose" and vote for whoever the nominee is -- just to vote "against" Hillary or Obama. But, I predict Not Enough will bother to vote. They will be too disappointed with the GOP's destruction of Huckabee's Campaign. Just as they refuse to vote for the "anointed" McCain -- I predict they will continue to protest and stay home in November.

But, it's not too late. The Huckabee supporters can be won over -- just as soon as Huckabee is taken seriously by the GOP and included on the ticket.

[paul]

There's not a dime's worth of difference between McCain and Huckabee. Both are tools of New World Order CFR elites and intend to continue the endless bloodshed of corporate wars for profit. Neither has any sense about economics or cares a fig about average Americans. Huckabee is a Freemason which is incompatible with true Christianity no matter how hard he thumps a Bible, and McCain doesn't care about any religion except "me first". Ron Paul was the only Republican with a snowball's chance of beating Hillary or Obama, but hacked voting machines and official chicanery have shut him out. So the elites are making McCain another Bob Dole to hand the election to one of their true choices; Hillary or Obama. There's little difference between them either. America is screwed and nearly lost forever. At least people know who to blame, and we're mad as hell and never going to forget!