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 Huckabees.
An hour later, Huckabee assured his supporters that until the race for the Republican nomination was sewn up, hed be a contender.
As long as theres still votes and delegates to be won... theres going to be one guy answering the bell every time theres 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.
Its 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, were 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 campaigns media consultant, said the storms and tornadoes could have kept some voters from the polls. But he downplayed the weathers significance. Republican primary voters are hard-core conservatives who generally get out and vote no matter what, he said. Theyre 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.
Everybodys looking for the real conservative, and hes 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 Virginias Republican convention, one of the 21 nominating contests the party held around the country.
Were pretty pumped about it, he told the 30 or so reporters and cameramen who huddled around him Tuesday afternoon at St. Annes 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. McCains 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 wasnt the case, Huckabee said.
There wasnt even a frontroom deal. There was no deal. The victory buoyed Huckabee. The games still on, he said.
His supporters at the Metroplex agreed. No matter how well he does in Tuesdays 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 Huckabees 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 CNNs Situation Room. Im going to vote for John McCain if Im not the one who gets the nomination, he told host Wolf Blitzer.
Blizter asked if hed vote for Romney should he win the nomination.
Ill vote for the Republican nominee, Huckabee responded.
But Huckabee said he didnt expect to have to vote for one of his opponents he predicted he will win the nomination.
I still believe in miracles.
How about checking this out:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962819/posts?q=1&;page=1001 Posts 1004 & 1005
Go Huckabee... Anyone but McCain.
he wouldn’t make a good Sec.of HUD
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.
Huck’s going to have his toosh handed to him next Tuesday.
I think you might be surprised about McCain's good friend, Huckabee.
Please read my Post #2.
Nightmare scenario: McCain-Huckabee vs. Clinton-Obama.
Huckabee just recieved the endorsement of Dobson!
But Huckabee said he didnt 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.
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.
“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.
“Hucks 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.
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.
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