Posted on 02/10/2008 11:02:51 AM PST by LibertarianLiz
February 10, 2008- Seattle, WashingtonNews
Huckabee won't concede Washington state, cites 'legal issues'
Story Updated: Feb 10, 2008 at 10:02 AM PST
By KOMO Staff & News Services
SEATTLE - Republican Mike Huckabee says he's not ready to concede Washington state, even though the state Republican Party has declared Arizona Sen. John McCain the winner of Saturday's caucuses.
On NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning, the former Arkansas governor said his campaign is looking into some legal issues, without going into specifics.
With 87 percent of GOP precincts reporting statewide, McCain leads the GOP field with 25.5 percent of delegates while Huckabee took 23.7 percent - a difference of only 1.8 percent.
State Republicans say the remainder of the caucus votes will not be counted until Monday.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul 20.6 percent of the GOP vote, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won 16.5 percent.
Approximately 12.7 percent of delegates reported their preference as "uncommitted", while another 1.1 percent reported their preference as "other."
The division among Republicans was reflected in their comments at caucuses and a comparatively light turnout, when compared with the Democratic caucuses.
Even in heavily Republican Lewis County, the Republican caucuses at W.F. West High School in Chehalis drew only about 15 people, compared to more than 160 at a Democratic caucus elsewhere in the school.
"McCain is a bit wishy-washy. I'm not sure where he stands from day-to-day," said Maria Easley, a 40-year-old financial analyst from Chehalis, who was reluctantly supporting McCain. "But I don't think that Huckabee can go the distance."
Paul, whose libertarian views and anti-war stance have drawn a strong following in Washington, was running a strong third.
"People are really, really ready to have someone who is a serious conservative, a real conservative," said Maureen Moore, state coordinator for Paul's campaign. "And that's who Ron Paul is."
With it down to McCain and Huckabee, Paul has become the "none of the above" vote.
I agree, and this whole Washington State thing stinks bad.
What’s it really come down to is that the “frontrunner” can’t muster more than a quarter of the support of his supposed base.
That is complete crap if this is what is going to be used to decide delegates from this state and could effectively end the Huckabee campaign. It should be what people who attended the caucus said they wanted, not just the handful of volunteers who are willing to go on to the county and state conventions, whom we had no sway over whom they want to support, and who can change their allegiance at any time forward.
LOL!! The old Huckster sure can tell a joke! Either that or he should listen to his own push-polling and read the fliers his people are circulating.
Welcome to the politics of Washington State. Maybe someone will finally pay attention to all the shenanigans that has been going on here.
The math only works out if nothing changes.
McCain is always good for something stupid.
If it’s meaty enough the MSM will not be able to resist running it 24/7.
It will only take one thing like the bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran thing to derail him. If it comes out soon enough.
But besides that any number of things can change.
This is already the screwiest election I’ve ever heard of.
I think you are missing the point here.
NO votes were cast for presidential delegates.
If you want to make sure your guy gets the delegates at the State Convention (where is matters) get involved and bring votes.
I had 400 people at my caucus, all had a voice. All had opportunity to vote for delegates that represent them.
You cannot blame other if you did not make sure you had the votes to elect delegates that support your guy.
It’s not over by a long shot.
Huckabee is right to question the results.
The GOP establishment has for too long gotten its way to the detriment of the conservative movement.
I agree with in a general sense but unlike you I cannot forgive McCain’s wrong absolutely wrong positions on so many fundamental issues that are dear to conservatives: stem cell research/abortion, ANWR, campaign finance, the IRS, on GITMO Huck says: “in fact there are extraordinary means being taken to make sure these detainees are being given really every consideration” as opposed to McCain who has criticized GITMO every step of the way.
I could go on
Huckabee has not been tested at the federal level true - but his word s imply a more conservative approach for the US
Well, I’ve actually heard that these turnouts are kind of consistent to what they’ve been in the past. Note, I sad “I’ve heard”, so that means it could be wrong— but don’t panic.
I think a lot of people are confused about how Washington works. The caucus was held yesterday, but the primary vote isn’t until the 19th of this month. I think the “winner” is determined based on a 50-50 combo of these two results. I’m sure someone posted exactly what happens on another thread.
So, the “republican electorate” hasn’t even voted yet— the people who were able & invested enough to go to caucuses did so (which are mostly more conservative people, thus explaning McCain’s less than stellar showing).
Your are right. It was the way the conservative vote was split, and the fact that blue state primaries came earlier. That and all MSM love that McCain gets. A loss in Texas in particular would be a terrible terrible blow for McCain. A smart politician would give Huckabee the VP nomination, but the famous McCain temperament will not allow it.
Was he for Desert Storm?
Huckabee’s best shot in that interview came when he said why should I get out. The party front loaded the primaries to get a lot of big states and delegates out of the way early. Huckabee is right if California, Illinois, and Florida had not moved up their primaries McCain WOULD NOT be the presumptive nominee that he is today.”
So what. If, If, If. If George Allen hadnt said macaca, Huck would be back in Hope. If Romney had done a mere 3 points better, Romney would be the nominee.
If Huck wasnt in the race, Romney would beat mcCain.
“Mitt should transfer his 16.5% of voters over to Huck.
Payback for McLame’s transfer of votes to Huck in the West Virginia primary. “
Not at all, since it was Huck who screwed Romney, *HUCK* should pay back Romney and give him his votes.
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