Playing Hardball In West Virginia

Captain's Quarters ^ | Feb. 05, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[pepperhead]

Ron Paul is Huckabee’s stalking horse........ ;)

[originalbuckeye]

I figured Huckster was looking for the VP slot with McCain.

[dforest]

Huckster, that name fits him to a tee. Now what do we call those who think he is some fine Christian leader?

[Tuxedo]

This is complete and utter BS! Huckabee has no intention on winning the nomination - he knows he is toast, yet runs interference for the front runner? I guess this opens up a new playbook for future campaigns. Enlist in a helper with no real chance of winning but enough charisma to steal votes from whoever your biggest challenger is. Even the Dems may not be capable of such. At least Edwards stepped down to let the two front runners duke it out.

[nightlight7]

REALLY??? THAT IS COLLUSION!!! Time to tell my conservative friends supporting RP...

Romney's people try to cut a deal first, but Ron Paul guys apparently didn't trust them. They also figured that joining Huck improves their chances for a brokered convention. After all, in 1860 Lincoln barely made it into the brokered convention with only 22 delegates (out of 233).

[torchthemummy]

I agree with most of your post but I disagree with the idea that Huckabee will not hand over his delegates. The only catch is that Huckabee would not be a VP possibility but would get a cushy cabinet or Ambassador slot if McCain won. Of course McCain wouldn't and Huckabee will have sold his soul for nothing.

And while I agree that this is, in the end, hardball politics the fact remains that Huckabee and McCain cannot honestly state that their campaigns are truly in competition with each other. That is now crystal clear.

[torchthemummy]

The rest of the story is that even with McCain's support, Huck didn't have the majority. So his side made a deal with the Ron Paul's supporters to switch to Huck in return for the 3 national delegates. Hence the final WV delegate count is:

These idiots need us more than we need them. Talk about mass political suicide not to mention that everyone, from McCain to Hunter to Huckabee to the MSM in all it's tentacle forms is anti-Romney. Talk about a mass endorsement. If Romney gets through Super Tuesday with more delegates than Huckabee the mo will be his. This is just not going to sit well and I have to guess that there are alot of WV conservatives none to happy with being portrayed as the return of backroom politics.

[torchthemummy]

Sometime, however, short term politics like this may cost the players another win in the long-run, as people perceive them as un-ethical (regardless whether it's justified or not).

While the door is closed a window is still open.

[torchthemummy]

What’s funny is this says to Huckabee and his supporters “you don’t matter”. McCain is willing to give you an entire state because he isn’t afraid of you.

That's a potent point I have to say.

[torchthemummy]

But then again, the denial by the two camps that they aren’t working together is a testimony to their DISHONESTY.

Exactly. That argument cost them exactly 18 delegates.

[torchthemummy]

Romney's people try to cut a deal first, but Ron Paul guys apparently didn't trust them.

What a crock! And you can't back it up because now Paul has given up any notion of being independent of the other campaigns. He made a deal for the only reason that naturally comes to mind - that he actually would get some delegates. Doesn't sound like the act of a man with strong convictions about the nefarious doings of Washington.

[nightlight7]

And you can't back it up because now Paul has given up any notion of being independent of the other campaigns.

This was reported by Ron Paul's WV delegates. As to why his supporters would cut a deal:

1) 3 delegates are better than 0 delegates that Romney & McCaing got.
2) Huckabee's win splits the vote further and increases chances for brokered convention.

I see nothing wrong with either, especially if you're getting zero free publicity from MSM, while others are getting hundreds of millions.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Exactly. That argument cost them exactly 18 delegates.

How do you mean?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Huckabee will lose badly to Clinton or Obama. He’ll never get the libertarian or independents to vote for him because he’s a statist Christian socialist.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Doesn't sound like the act of a man with strong convictions about the nefarious doings of Washington.

If you can't beat 'em, join them. Even engaging in this Paul is still purer than the driven snow.

[socialismisinsidious]

I’ve been forced to the same conclusion. I keep telling myself that the least I can do is help ensure that when this country becomes fully socialist (which is will do with either Democrat or McCain/Huckster): goes to hell in hand basket, rots from the inside out the entire world will see that the person to blame has a D behind their name.