Mike Huckabee's strategy: Deadlocked convention

In an interview with a San Antonio radio station this morning, Mike Huckabee essentially confirmed the suspicions of many analysts. He's hanging on in the Republican presidential nomination fight hoping to keep John McCain from winning enough delegates to get the nomination on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in September.

Huckabee's thinking: With no clear nominee, the conservative wing will move to him, and he might be able to snatch the nomination in a floor fight, he told station WOAI-AM (1200). But it will take an upset win in Texas on March 4 to do that, he said.

"If we win Texas, I think it changes the dynamics of this race," Huckabee said. "It could well go all the way to the convention. If the convention delegates pick the president, chances are they would pick the most conservative. I would be the one they would end up picking, if that’s the criteria."

That's a lot of "ifs." Polls in Texas vary widely, but the Real Clear Politics aggregate gives McCain a 12-point lead, which might be close enough for Huckabee to pull off a surprise. Especially if McCain's base believes that the nomination is all his and doesn't bother to vote.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Jenny S]

What do you think election means! Why just hand it over to one person... regardless of the people who would like to have the chance to vote for their person?
If we as a country give up our election process, what are we living for? This country was founded on EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE VALUES!..

[Tony]

McCain had a terrible day yesterday.. The FEC says he cannot opt out of matching funds just yet, the NYTimes casts doubts on his integrity, and his AZ co-chair is indicted .
If he's severely hobbled by these issues at the convention, Huckabee may have a chance at the convention...just may.

I wonder what Romney's thinking....

[LLA]

The partys can choose whoever they want. We get to vote in the general. primary elections are relatively new in th US.
They are a big waste of time and money.and ratings for the media.

[gander]

I won't vote for a liberal.

onlyhuckabee.com

[andre]

"Confirmed the Suspicions" WTH? Suspicions These idiots are getting paid to analyze what is commonly Known! This is a Presedential Election and RACE! And Huckabee has made it plainly known that he is Campaining to Win!

Come On...

[Hargrove08]

Unfortunately, Huckabee would have to convince about 950 delegates like myself to vote for him, against the wishes of our constituents and to the candidate we have pledged to support. I'm sure Mike's a good man, but I will not vote for him at the convention.

[James]

Huckabee isn't a true conservative either. He's pro-life yes, but other than that he doesn't have any good ideas for the country that will work.

He plays base guitar but I don't need a wannabe rockstar in the White house. We need a leader.

[David Anderson]

The media must be populated with people who did very poorly in school. The delegate counts are always wrong, the logic is always wrong, and the conclusions are always wrong. The media treat the American people as though they are stupid, but the American people see through the sham.

[Adrian Bennett]

Nice article. Wouldn't it be so amazing to see Huckabee get the nomination? I think I'll vote for him either way.

[Rob]

Personally, I am disappointed in GOV Perry asking Huck to drop out before the Texas primary, essentially taking away the power of the voters of Texas. It smelled of favoritism and did not represent Texas in a favorable light. I am voting for Huckabee to send aq clear message. MY VOTE MATTERS!!!!

[Phoebe]

"In an interview with a San Antonio radio station this morning, Mike Huckabee essentially confirmed the suspicions of many analysts."

Is this new? I guess not to Huckabee supporters since we have been talking about the possibility of Huckabee going to a brokered convention for a little over a month now.

[Richard Bergum]

I think we on the Christian values end of the spectrum, may have been taken for granted one to many times. I like many others cannot vote for stem cell research, therefor McCain cannot win in the general election. If Huckabee loses the primary, I will write him in the general and leave the rest to God.

[Isaac]

on my researches and findings, I come to the conclusion that Huckabee is a real thing. The media has been extremely bias against him and has been twisting his record. I found it very interesting that he is not the media's pick for sure, yet the people keep cheering him. Are we voting for the president of media or the people of America? :) If we want to vote for a president of the people of America, we should turn off the TV and find out for ourselves.

[aleta]

Mike Huckabee has my vote if he can hang on until PA!

[Jeff Thomas]

James, Governor Huckabee is all around conservative. He is pro life as in for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect all human life. Also, an amendment to keep clear the definition of marriage: one woman with one man for life. He is pro 2nd amendment as in let's not water it down. He has a clear 9-Point Strategy for immigration enforcement and border security. He is so conservative on lowering taxes that he advocates eliminating the IRS and implementing the Fair Tax, and if you don't think that's doable just wait, it will happen, but I'd rather it happen sooner than later. The political elite is fearful of the elimination of their power base, as they are all for themselves, not we, the people. We need to educate ourselves above being a pawn.

[Super Delegate]

Well this delegate is ready to switch to Huckabee.

After seeing all of the unethical things the Romney camp did it is very easy for us to switch to Huckabee.

So, YES. It is very possible for Huckabee to win at the convention.

[CKing]

This is the utter beauty of a democracy. A brokered convention is just what we need (I'm not being sarcastic) Lincoln won this way and Harding did too (among others). My state's primary isn't until May and I want a CHOICE on the ballot. I don't want to be TOLD who my nominee is. One of the things that is so "mental" about this election process is the way they draw out the primary. For example the states yet to vote especially those a few months away - don't really get a voice. One of the media talking heads put it nicely without meaning to the other night. On FOX one lady said, "For the first time in a long time Wisconsin's votes actually count." DUH!! That's what's wrong with the system. Wisconsin's votes should ALWAYS count. I wish SOMEBODY would get a hold of that and CHANGE the way we do primaries so EVERYONE'S voice can be heard equally. If AMERICAN IDOL can do it, shouldn't the US government be able to do it?

[believehuckabee]

Mike Huckabee has the most executive experience of any candidate running, Republican or Democrat. He was re-elected Governor of Arkansas until his term limits expired. He was their Lt. Governor prior to that. He was voted one of the Best Five Governors in America by Time Magazine. He is a true conservative in every sense of the word. He is the best communicator since Ronald Reagan. Mike Huckabee is for real and he is authentic!

WE DID VOTE HUCKABEE!!!
And we will stand by that vote again in November!

[C. Grace Ma]

" Unfortunately, Huckabee would have to convince about 950 delegates like myself to vote for him, against the wishes of our constituents and to the candidate we have pledged to support. I'm sure Mike's a good man, but I will not vote for him at the convention. "

I bet you've never listened to a whole speech of Gov. Huckabee and didn't know his change of many lives in Arkansas which made him re-elected twice. He is a great communicator and a govennor with undeniably great records. (Read News Magzine).

I think you as a delegate need to at least listen once to each candidate's whole speech before you actually plege at the convention floor.

[ThomasJC]

Mike Huckabee IS a true conservative. Here are some FACTS:

1. Yes, Huckabee is 100% prolife--the REAL thing!However, there are many more issues where Huckabee is obviously an authentic conservative:
2. Huckabee supports the marriage amendment. And, he has always consistently stood his ground for the sanctity of marriage.
3. Huckabee is a firm supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
4. Huckabee is the only candidate to sign a pledge to not allow amnesty. His 9-point immigration plan is more extensive than any other candidates' plans.
5. Huckabee cut taxes more than 90 times in his state. He is a fiscal conservative.
6. Huckabee believes in a strong military. He holds to the Reagan doctrine of strength through peace.
7. During his 10+ years as a governor, Huckabee showed himself to be friendly to homeschooling. He signed into law homeschooling-friendly legislation, and he even had a homeschooling parent on his education board.
8. Huckabee's plan to abolish the IRS and have a Fair Tax is as conservative as you can get on taxes. He also wants to remove the tax burdens on small business owners.
9. Huckabee will help this nation to once and for all be free from dependence on foreign oil, and he has established a timetable to do that. Politicians have been talking about this for decades, but Huckabee has gone a step further: he has committed to doing it and has set a timetable
10. Huckabee believes that we are one nation *under God*.

There is no other leading candidate in this race who even compares to the authentic-conservative credentials of Mike Huckabee.

[Patty]

I hope Huckabee does stay in the race, even if to a convention delegate floor fight. We have had our primary decisions, like it or not, controlled by the TV "News" : FOX, CNN, MSNBC "polls' and commentary, who suddenly fell in love with McCain when they (and the RNC) saw Huckabee might be the one to come out ahead. Huckabee would be better than MCCAIN, the egotistial career Washington deal maker, with a much checkered past, politically and personally.I will NOT vote for MCCain ever ! I LIVED IN ARIZONA LONG ENOUGH TO SEE HIS TRUE CHARACTER. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF THE EVILS WHICH HAVE BEEN PRUNED DOWN BY THE PRESS FOR ME.
Huckabee does have a platform which is on his website, if you take the time to look for information. (And his website UNLIKE MCCAIN'S WEBSITE does NOT make you sign an agreement to let him change the wording on comments you send in.

I am going to vote absentee in theTexas primary for Huckabee, because we need some fresh blood of a conservative nature as our president. He's more than a Baptist preacher, as the press would have you believe. I am not at all religious, but believe we should have morality and ethics represented by our elected officials for a change.

[Hombre Viejo]

Obama may tell everybody, in his unrealistic exuberance, they can have the stuff they want, and that is just fluff and the dreams of a utopia, not relistic thought.
One thing he is dead right on. "The fence alone..." Won't work unless we put our military on the border with it. That very expensive "Virtual fence" is going to be a joke! When the Mexican Mafia finds those cameras they will simply blow them away with grenades and AK-47 rifles!
Just another big waste of taxpayer money! Use it instead to post our soldiers on the border. At the current level of invasion this is bo longer a civilian issue. We need manned machine gun pits, not empty promises and hi-tech. This job requires more old fashioned supervision. Hi-tech solutions only work in a protected environment!

[Tim Kelley]

THE QUESTION:

Who do YOU(not the media or party bosses) ...TRUST...to consistently and clearly ARTICULATE the CONSERVATIVE cause in the general election?

Can McCain??? He (like Dole in 96) is an honorable man but he cannot be counted on to COMMUNICATE our cause with CONVICTION like Governor Huckabee CAN!

[Shameful]

Huckleberry is dilusional if he thinks he's going to win this nomination. I"m fed up with Huckleberry Hound sticking around in this primary when it's completely obvious that he has no chance. At this point, Huckleberry is only getting egg on his face. He reminds me of the lap dog that hangs around the dinner table hoping for the dinner meat scraps that mistakenly fall from the table. It's shameful. Let me lay this out straight.... I'm not at all excited for McAmnesty but, one thing for certain is the that the only thing more annoying than McAmnesty getting the nomination is Huckleberry Hound hanging around waisting money for a hopeless cause. Two weeks after Super Tuesday and a candidate that has dropped out (Romney) still has more delegates than Huckleberry. Enough is enough......hang it up Hucks.

[chris]

Yippee! A brokered convention. Let's do it. Vote Huckabee!