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Huckabee: Until race for GOP nomination settled, he’s in it
Arkansas Democrat Review ^ | February 6, 2008 | ALEX DANIELS

Posted on 02/07/2008 8:33:33 PM PST by ConservativeMind

Not long after the polls closed in Arkansas on Tuesday, the twin screens at the front of the room flashed the news: Mike Huckabee was the projected winner of the Arkansas Republican primary.

Whoops and cheers filled the big room.

Fifteen minutes later, the screens produced more cheers: Alabama was Huckabee’s.

An hour later, Huckabee assured his supporters that until the race for the Republican nomination was sewn up, he’d be a contender.

“As long as there’s still votes and delegates to be won... there’s going to be one guy answering the bell every time there’s a new round,” Huckabee told a crowd of about 200 who showed up to watch election returns at the Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock.

Huckabee was leading in Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri when he made his remarks.

“It’s tough for this old Razorback to say, ‘ Roll, Tide, roll.” Huckabee said. “This old Razorback might even catch Bulldog fever before the night is over.” His wife, Janet, chimed in, with a prediction on the March 4 Texas primary: “Next month, we’re going to say, ‘ Hook ’em Horns. ’” Huckabee said his strong showing in the South could be attributed to the agreement by conservative voters in those states with his stance on the right to bear arms, his right-to-life position on abortion and his call for lower taxes.

As Huckabee supporters gathered to watch the election returns, much of the state was being battered by nasty weather.

Bob Wicker, the campaign’s media consultant, said the storms and tornadoes could have kept some voters from the polls. But he downplayed the weather’s significance. “Republican primary voters are hard-core conservatives who generally get out and vote no matter what,” he said. “They’re not going to let weather get in the way.” As the wind peaked and the thunder boomed, supporters trickled into the building.

Charlene Hardcastle, a registered nurse and Huckabee volunteer from Little Rock, was one of them. She admires Huckabee for his conservative political views and communication skills.

She seemed amazed that Romney and McCain were in the lead.

“Everybody’s looking for the real conservative, and he’s right there in front of us,” she said.

By the time Huckabee cast a ballot for himself in North Little Rock, he already had a victory under his belt. He came out on top after the second round of ballots at West Virginia’s Republican convention, one of the 21 nominating contests the party held around the country.

“We’re pretty pumped about it,” he told the 30 or so reporters and cameramen who huddled around him Tuesday afternoon at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, polling place for the 24 th precinct.

As Huckabee approached the voting booth, he turned to his wife and pleaded, “One last time, please vote for me.” Afterward, Huckabee took a moment to reflect.

“To vote for yourself for president of the United States is pretty overwhelming.” Huckabee had made an earlymorning trip to Charleston, W. Va., to speak to the convention. So did Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer represented John McCain.

On the first ballot, Romney came out on top, with 41 percent of the vote, followed by 33 percent for Huckabee, 16 percent for McCain and 10 percent for Paul. McCain’s supporters threw themselves behind Huckabee in the second ballot, pushing him over the top.

Romney complained that Mc-Cain and Huckabee had arranged for the second-ballot vote switch in a “back room deal.” That wasn’t the case, Huckabee said.

“There wasn’t even a frontroom deal. There was no deal.” The victory buoyed Huckabee. “The game’s still on,” he said.

His supporters at the Metroplex agreed. No matter how well he does in Tuesday’s contests, Hardcastle predicted, Huckabee would “go on and spread his message,” and stay in the race.

Randy Forrester, a Clarksville radio-station owner, predicted a Huckabee upset. “A lot of the Huckabee supporters are hidden out there,” he said. “Anything could happen.” Jim Pinkerton, a Huckabee campaign strategist, said that Huckabee’s strength in Southern states would be important in a general election, should Huckabee survive against the odds and make it that far. He noted that Hillary Rodham Clinton had won early contests in Arkansas and Tennessee. “Republicans have to be thinking, ‘ we want a candidate who can nail those states down. ’” After voting Tuesday, Huckabee appeared on CNN’s Situation Room. “I’m going to vote for John McCain if I’m not the one who gets the nomination,” he told host Wolf Blitzer.

Blizter asked if he’d vote for Romney should he win the nomination.

“I’ll vote for the Republican nominee,” Huckabee responded.

But Huckabee said he didn’t expect to have to vote for one of his opponents — he predicted he will win the nomination.

“I still believe in miracles.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mikehuckabee
I'm not a Huckabee supporter, but a friend made me decide to post this.
1 posted on 02/07/2008 8:33:35 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind

How about checking this out:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962819/posts?q=1&;page=1001 Posts 1004 & 1005


2 posted on 02/07/2008 8:37:19 PM PST by LADY J
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To: ConservativeMind
Sure. As long as there are non-CFR votes to skim off against Ron Paul, Reverend Huckabee can be counted on to bend over and take it from the global elites.

What a craven imposter.
3 posted on 02/07/2008 8:37:53 PM PST by farmer18th
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To: ConservativeMind

Go Huckabee... Anyone but McCain.


4 posted on 02/07/2008 8:38:05 PM PST by pallis
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To: ConservativeMind

he wouldn’t make a good Sec.of HUD


5 posted on 02/07/2008 8:38:23 PM PST by Lib-Lickers 2
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To: ConservativeMind

If McCain picks him for his running mate, he could very well be the candidate in 2012 as McCain will be a one termer. I really don’t like Huck.


6 posted on 02/07/2008 8:39:14 PM PST by dandiegirl
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To: ConservativeMind

Huck’s going to have his toosh handed to him next Tuesday.


7 posted on 02/07/2008 8:39:18 PM PST by Norman Bates
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To: pallis
"Go Huckabee... Anyone but McCain."

I think you might be surprised about McCain's good friend, Huckabee.

Please read my Post #2.

8 posted on 02/07/2008 8:41:11 PM PST by LADY J
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To: dandiegirl

Nightmare scenario: McCain-Huckabee vs. Clinton-Obama.


9 posted on 02/07/2008 8:41:50 PM PST by bayareablues
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To: pallis

Huckabee just recieved the endorsement of Dobson!


10 posted on 02/07/2008 8:43:39 PM PST by nckerr (www.myspace.com/ArmyKerrFamily)
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To: ConservativeMind

But Huckabee said he didn’t expect to have to vote for one of his opponents — he predicted he will win the nomination.

“I still believe in miracles.”

Of course it's early yet and anything can happen. Even miracles.

11 posted on 02/07/2008 8:47:18 PM PST by Syncro
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To: ConservativeMind

I went to an evangelical church on Sunday with my sister while visiting her in another state. Across the street from the church, one of the members had set up a table with Huckabee posters and was handing out Huckabee literature.


12 posted on 02/07/2008 8:49:03 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: LADY J

“I think you might be surprised about McCain’s good friend, Huckabee.”

I don’t care. Once the Huckster is out of it, or a deal is struck between him and McCain, I’ll switch to supporting Obama. Nothing would surprise me at this point except seeing McCain or Huckabee either one come anywhere near winning in November. But thanks, I’ll read your post.


13 posted on 02/07/2008 8:51:05 PM PST by pallis
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To: Norman Bates

“Huck’s going to have his toosh handed to him next Tuesday.”


I’m just glad that I wasn’t asked a few months ago to bet money that he would not be the only one standing against McCain next Tuesday.


14 posted on 02/07/2008 8:53:06 PM PST by ansel12 (The conservative boat sailed long ago, it is every man for himself now.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Drinking Coffee Guess what Huck, it's already settled!
15 posted on 02/07/2008 9:44:26 PM PST by HawaiianGecko (If you can't run with the big dogs...)
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To: ConservativeMind

Please, all you gullible people out there, stop supporting this shyster. It’s the only way he will go away. And he really needs to go away.


16 posted on 02/07/2008 10:14:30 PM PST by originalbuckeye
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