Posted on 02/10/2008 1:29:14 PM PST by wastedpotential
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says something weird happened with the count of Republican delegates in yesterdays caucus. Huckabee was on NBCs Meet the Press this morning. As he was talking about his strong showing in yesterdays contests, he said about the caucus here:
Washington state, it's not quite yet over; still too close to call. Moderator Tim Russert: Well, the party has declared it over.
Huckabee: They have, but there's some weird things. We're, we're looking at some legal issues up there, and so we're not ready to concede that one until we understand how...
That was all he said on the program and I have not been able to reach anyone at the campaign. But the campaigns official blog also raises question about the GOP vote count:
The Washington State GOP, with 87.2 percent reporting, discontinued the counting process. We are looking into the matter. We are committed to making certain EVERY vote is counted. We will keep you posted. As votes were tallied yesterday by the state Republican Party, Sen. John McCain led in an early count, Huckabee led briefly later in the night and then at 11:30 p.m., state party chairman Luke Esser declared McCain the winner.
But there was a razor thin margin between McCain, with 25.5 percent of delegates, and Huckabee, with 23.7 percent, and there was still about 13 percent of precincts around the state that had yet to be counted.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
They release their delegates. He could ask that they vote for McCain or Huckabee, but they aren’t bound to do that.
Yes, it presumes that Mitt might have an interest in participating at a brokered convention, why else hold on to your delegates by suspending a campaign instead of just dropping out?
That’s my thinking too. But can Mitt force his delegates to support McCain or anyone else?
kjam22: Mitt throwing support to Huckabee seems extremely unlikely, that’s why I didn’t mention it.
Romney didn’t “end” his campaign, he “suspended” it and is hanging onto his delegates. Most likely to give him a significant presence at the convention and input on the platform, but if something unexpected happens he could restart the campaign. I presume that people can still vote for him in the remaining states, he’s just not spending money to enhance his delegate totals.
“They release their delegates. He could ask that they vote for McCain or Huckabee, but they arent bound to do that.”
You weren’t posting to me, but thanks for answering my question anyway!
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
Does the Huckabee campaign actually not know how the Washington State Caucus and Convention process work?
Absolutely NO official ballots were cast for ANY presidential candidate.
The so-called “results” that are being reported are the VOLUNTARY reported leanings of the delegates that were elected to their respective County Conventions.
It is un-official, not guaranteed and only for the purposes of getting a “feel” of the presidential “leanings” of delegates.
No delegates will be assigned to the National Convention (or a candidate) until the State Convention in May.
The Delegates (to the County Conventions) that were elected yesterday ARE official WHEN they ALL have passed through each Counties Credentials Committee. They ARE NOT presidential delegates and can change their mind, not show up or not get elected to the State Convention.
Also, no County was REQUIRED to report their Delegate Presidential Preference to the State Party. There is NO rule in the Party by-laws and some may choose NOT to report.
Huckabee needs to stop embarrassing himself and the THOUSANDS of loyal Republican Volunteers in Washington State.
BTW - Huckabee came in Second in Cowlitz County: http://www.cowlitzrepublicans.com/caucus2008
You have no idea what you are talking about.
The “State” did not count anything.
This was a VOLUNTARY count of the “leanings” of Delegates elected to the County Convention.
Each Precinct asked whom ever it elected as a delegat to the County Convention who they are supporting or leaning towards. The results were sent tot eh Counties who consolidated the results and sent them up to the State Party.
2600 Precincts in King County alone... Thousands or delegates to each counties convention, all paper, all voluntary, all hand counted and completely un-official.
No official ballot was cast for any presidential candidate, no delegates assign to any presidential candidate.
The media in its efforts to get a story has twisted this thing and nobody is looking at how the system really works.
Thanks for that explanation, Cyber....now, what happens with the Primary ones?? I’m assuming THOSE will be ASSIGNED.
Didn’t Washington steal the election for that woman over Rossi? I remember they kept recounting until they gave it to her.
What if Romney throws his delegates to Huckabee?
I would be surprised since Huckabee has bigoted the Mormon religion.
DITTO!!!!
Absolutely, unlike the Democrats, we voted last year to assign 51% of our Delegates by popular vote of the Primary Ballot.
The Primary ballot will assign delegates to candidates.
That was the State and King County, not the Republican Party.
It is the Republican party that is counting the Presidential Preference of Delegate to each Counties Convention.
Again, an un-official “poll” of how our delegates are leaning. No Actual Delegates to the National Convention have been Elected. That will not happen until May.
The point is that the only “Election” process that happened yesterday was the election of delegates to the county convention.
It was conducted at a Precinct level and the only implication it had on the Presidential Primary race was to give an indication of the “leanings” of the delegates elected to the County Conventions so far.
Nothing shady happened, it was for the Party, by the Party and all official paper work is signed, dated and verified.
Literally Thousands of Party Volunteers are being dumped on for no good reason. Just so Huckabee can get some press.
I liked Huckabee before, but this disrespect of the grassroots of Washington is appalling.
What are his chances now? When the REAL election of Presidential delegates occur?
The media in its efforts to get a story has twisted this thing and nobody is looking at how the system really works.
Well golly gee....... That must be a first.
Don’t these delegates go to the state convention with no preference and from the state they select 18 delegates for the National which remain ‘uncommitted’? Then on the WA Primary day they select 19 delegates that go to the National as assigned based upon 1 delegate for each CD and 10 at large statewide results. Or something like that?
These delegates go to the County Convention first (I have 300 Delegates to my County Convention), were they debate and pass the County Party platform and elect delegates to the State Convention (11 for my County).
At the State Convention each Congressional District meets to elect 3 delegates (out of a few dozen, some from from each county in the CD) to the National Convention (where Presidential Preference or “First Choice” will be an issue).
The Primary Ballot will decide 19 delegates (or 51%) for the candidate by CD and the “at large”. That vote is on the 19th.
Yes. After the first count, the RATs "found" more votes, and they counted again. Rossi won. So the RATs "found" more votes, and they counted again, and Rossi lost. The PUBs took them to court, and the court found, LEGAL DECISION, that the election was a fraud. However, they could not go back and inspect each vote to see how the votes went, so the RAT ended up winning. This was not an ACCUSATION of fraud, it was a COURT DECISION of fraud.
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