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First, let me say you presume much to think Hunter’s supporters will march lock-step with him in support of Huckabee - if that’s ever the case. Hunter’s supporters will make up their own minds INDEPENDANTLY of what direction any candidate’s bow-out would take.

As to the second part of your questioning, it’s akin to the “Guiliani is the only who can beat Hillery, therefore to not vote for Rudy because of principle is a vote for Hillery”, crap. There are still plenty of independents who’ll choose the candidate best satisfying their criteria, not based on avoiding a combo dream-team any pundit happens to have concocted; the right-seat position might not even be picked from the running herd.

Why would you think Hunter supporters - should their candidate of choice alter course - not think Thompson their next logical pick?

First, let me say you presume much to think Hunter’s supporters will march lock-step with him in support of Huckabee - if that’s ever the case. Hunter’s supporters will make up their own minds INDEPENDANTLY of what direction any candidate’s bow-out would take.

No, I don't assume Hunter's supporters will automatically support Huckabee if and when Hunter drops out and endorses him. The first question is to Hunter supporters if they will.

But you are talking about voters in the primaries, not delegates at the convention. This is pretty advanced stuff I'm talking about here. The actual nuts and bolts of how the nominee is going to be chosen, because it's not as simple or straight forward as it seems. I assume if Hunter hasn't dropped out yet he isn't going to. He's taking it all the way to the convention. You Hunter supporters are voting for convention delegates in support of Hunter. And this is where it makes a difference. When Hunter cashes in his delegates and endorses someone else, his delegates vote for that person. You might not — if Hunter drops out before you have a chance to vote — but any delegates Hunter wins will. That means the delegates your vote and might help award to Hunter will go to Mike Huckabee, which will then go to John McCain. These are actual votes cast for the nominee at the convention. Now of course if you say "well my vote isn't going to win Duncan Hunter any actual delegates" then you have to ask yourself what's the point, and perhaps start thinking about supporting the best candidate who might actually win a delegate because of it.

First, let me say you presume much to think Hunter’s supporters will march lock-step with him in support of Huckabee - if that’s ever the case. Hunter’s supporters will make up their own minds INDEPENDANTLY of what direction any candidate’s bow-out would take.

No, I don't assume Hunter's supporters will automatically support Huckabee if and when Hunter drops out and endorses him. The first question is to Hunter supporters if they will.

But you are talking about voters in the primaries, not delegates at the convention. This is pretty advanced stuff I'm talking about here. The actual nuts and bolts of how the nominee is going to be chosen, because it's not as simple or straight forward as it seems. I assume if Hunter hasn't dropped out yet he isn't going to. He's taking it all the way to the convention. You Hunter supporters are voting for convention delegates in support of Hunter. And this is where it makes a difference. When Hunter cashes in his delegates and endorses someone else, his delegates vote for that person. You might not — if Hunter drops out before you have a chance to vote — but any delegates Hunter wins will vote for whoever Hunter endorses. That means the delegates your vote might help award to Hunter will go to Mike Huckabee, which will then go to John McCain. These are actual votes cast for the nominee at the convention. Now of course if you say "well my vote isn't going to win Duncan Hunter any actual delegates" then you have to ask yourself what's the point, and perhaps start thinking about supporting the best candidate who might actually win a delegate because of it.