Huckabee: I'm Not Leaving The Race

Says He Is Refusing Calls To Quit And Allow GOP Front-Runner McCain To Sail To Nomination Unopposed

(CBS)  Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas Governor who is nipping at the heels of front-runner John McCain, with key victories in primaries and caucuses on Saturday, said he would ignore entreaties by some who want him to exit the race and allow the Arizona Senator to head to the convention virtually unopposed.

Appeaing on CBS's Face The Nation, he told host Bob Schieffer that he would continue to run until a nominee is decided.

“I'm prepared to stay in until somebody has 1,191 delegates, because that's the magic number at which a person is the nominee of the party," he said.

Huckabee also suggested that "all bets are off" if no single candidate wins the magic number before the GOP convention, and suggested that Republicans who have already voted in primaries, an in particular the party's superdelegates, are not "absolutely sold on what they’ve done."

The questions came days after Texas Governor Rick Perry asked Huckabee to leave the race, to avoid a convention fight or the political in-fighting which might benefit the Democrats. Huckabee nixed the idea, saying on Friday, "If we're really serious about taking it all the way to November, we better have a candidate who's truly battle-tested. So this nonsense about how I should step aside and have a cakewalk all the way to the election, that's crazy. Unless they were all to step aside and let me have a cakewalk, then that would be a fine thing."

Huckabee also said he was not staying in the race merely as a bargaining tool to win a vice presidential seat on the ticket. "I'm not interested in being a running mate. I would have run for vice president. I would have signed up with one of the guys I thought was going to win and tried to ingratiate myself if that's what I wanted.”

Also joining Schieffer on the program was Republican strategist Karl Rove, who said he believed it was not possible for Huckabee to win the GOP nomination, given that he would have to corral the vast majority of remaining delegates left, or who are uncommitted, in order to top McCain.

"I find it very unlikely, completely implausible that Governor Huckabee could win 83 percent of the delegates by either winning the caucuses and primaries here on out and/or having some of the bound delegates, pledged delegates change their minds," Rove said.

Rove, a Fox News analyst, admitted having donated to the McCain campaign (McCain is now "our presumptive nominee, and it was time for me to write him a check"), although he had not supported him in the past. He also said it was not helpful to McCain's candidacy for Huckabee to continue running, which he offered was the governor's right, but he also said, "I don't think anybody should be trying to pressure him to get out of the race before he's ready to get out of the race."

Rove then got out a white board to demonstrate how polls have been breaking showing McCain's strength against either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, and suggested that McCain would run basically even with either Democratic candidate.

"You wouldn't be getting that if Republican grassroots voters weren't already united behind you."

Rove said he believed, despite the recent momentum behind Obama, that Clinton would ultimately win the nomination.

"I think we're likely to see her fall behind in the delegate count in February, because the contests advantage Senator Obama, but I think we're likely to see then, in March and April, for her to climb back into the lead."

Rove also criticized Obama as "awfully thin, both on experience and on the issues," and brought up a rating of the Illinois Senator's record publicized by the magazine National Journal (and criticized by media watchdog groups) citing Obama as the "most liberal" senator.

Schieffer also spoke with Democratic political strategist Joe Trippi, who had recently worked on the campaign of John Edwards.

Trippi thought the nomination was up in the air, despite Obama's recent wins, given the Clinton's campaign's expectations about the March primaries in Texas and Ohio where she expects to do well. "But even that's in jeopardy, I think, as Obama builds some momentum here.

"I think Texas is a weird situation, where they have a primary and a caucus," Trippi said. "And I think Obama's done so well in these caucuses that there's an actual chance that if they target the caucus part of Texas, they can win - he could actually surprise everybody and win Texas. And now I'm hearing that he's sending his best Iowa operatives, his caucus operatives, to Texas. So I think that's the state I would watch right now as we go into March.

"Bottom line, here, this thing is really up in the air on the Democratic side," he said, referring to the fight for the votes of superdelegates. "It's going to be I think exciting. I think it's positive for the party because of this massive turnout that we're seeing. But it could end up ugly at the end."

[callenfallen]

Because a belief that evolution did not create man does not equal no belief in science. Tone''r down a bit to be realistic. Huckabee is not intending on replacing the constitution, if you study the constitutuion, amendment=change, so read the original before Amendments if you want the REAL McCoy. Learn how in history amendments changed the constitution, especially, how IRS was implemented. Fair Tax is actually the intent from the beginning. Huckabee excepts Gay as a personal choice just not in a marriage. Get it straight or is drama better for electing a president.

[txtrans07]

It sounds to me that more people commenting here are afraid of Christianity than they are of who is running for President. You should be happy when Islamic radicalism takes over or the Chinese take over our country as well as our economy!

[elkc]

It is a thorn in one''s foot to have these pip-squeak fanatical groups chanting their way or no way. With McCain, America is all inclusive. With Huckabee, it is like 8 more years of Bush''s divisional politics and distancing from Allied Country''s to isolate America away from that as being the most powerful nation in the world, to a country that will be less profitable than Mexico within the next ten years. The idea government Huckabee represents is one that is strictly controlled by a superior reigning religion (Baptist) denouncing and destructing other beliefs and rights to those beliefs. Want a good look at Huckabee''s America watch Jericho''s new episode this Tuesday.

[giantrobot2]

John McCain is a war hero, but he will not pass the health exam required to be the President.

John McCain would be the oldest president if elected in US history.

John McCain is not a true conservative. He is against the 1996 Federal Family act, human cloning and wants to keep the borders open.

Mike Huckabee was the first candidate in the Republican primary Dr. James Dobson ever endorsed. Huckabee is the true conservative candidate.

In 2006 the Republican''s got hammered and lost both the House and Senate because of the "My way or the Highway" stance on the Iraq war. How can John McCain win the general election with the same type of philosophy to stay there 100 years? He will absolutely lose in the general election.

If you are a Republican and you want to keep the Republican base leading, you must seriously considering voting for Mike Huckabee. He has the stamina, desire, intelligence, wit, charisma, experience and honesty to lead this nation at this point in our history.

Vote for Mike Huckabee!!

www.mikehuckabee.com

[nmsuip]

singinrick:

"...Darwinian evolution is pure philosophical assumption and made up time lines in order to support unproven un-seen absurd theories that man evolved from a puddle of pond scum "millions of years ago" and somehow all creatures came from absolute nothing.

What nonsense!"

And I suppose you have objective evidence to support biblical creationism...? I''d love to see that. Oh, I forgot. "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith..." As we''ve seen over the past 8 years, faith doesn''t work any better in politics than it does in science.

[fairandbal]

How in the H-E-L-L is Rove considered a ''news analyst''. Oh wait, it''s Fox news, the propaganda machine of the Republican party.

What happened in Washington to Huckabee is not surprising in the party of Rove, Delay and Bush. The fascism in America will rise out of the GOP and this is only another example of how the GOP has utter disdain for Democracy.

[miles1967-2009]

Another reason not to watch Murdoch''s right-wing propaganda channel, FOX. That smug, fat, smarmy face of Rove staring back at you. Thanks Karl for helping to seriously mess things up in the USA these past 8 years and then skating into a cushy high-paying job where you can spout your ignorance.

[pareidolia-2009]

There''''s only historical records of men written down spanning a few thousand years. No records beyond that.

Darwinian evolution is pure philosophical assumption and made up time lines in order to support unproven un-seen absurd theories that man evolved from a puddle of pond scum "millions of years ago" and somehow all creatures came from absolute nothing.

What nonsense!
Posted by singinrick

I take it from your post that you have no science background. Science does not rely on "written records" to understand the natural world. Why do you feel so threatened by science?

[irliberal]

Posted by downtowner97 at 10:19 PM

LOL I''m still laughing... thanks downtowner!

But... you do realize you''re talking to a rock. A stone. An inanimate object. He has no interest in learning anything that does not conform to his religious views. And nobody, nowhere can ever change that - he must do that himself. And few as fanatic as him ever have the power to change. But that''s allright - he serves as an example of the dangers of religion to the rest of us. So, he does serve a positive purpose!

[downtowner97]

Singinrick - Ok. Let''s take the bible literally. 6 thousand years ago, people rode around on dinosaurs. Those people made thousands more people through incest. Then God got rid of the dinosaurs for some reason. Then a couple thousand years later, God told Noah to build a boat to save humankind and animals from the flood for a new beginning. He made the boat so big it fit two of every animal on Earth. The animals that were in the Western Hemisphere had to swim all the way to the Middle East to be saved from drowning. Hey! That''s what the bible says! Don''t question it! Ok, then after swimming across the ocean, the animals spent 40 days and nights on the ark, then managed to swim back to the other continents and repopulate. Noah''s family repopulated the earth in a few thousand years with people of all different races through some more incest.

Moral of the story. Incest is good, and animals that can swim across vast oceans need a boat to save them from floods. Science is blasphemy. Schools should be replaced by churches, Christians should kill everyone not like them, and most importantly of all, the bible should replace the constitution.

[downtowner97]

The man doesn''t believe in science. Who in the world, even in the media, would accuse him of being a liberal. He wants to replace our constitution with the bible. That''s as un-liberal as anything could be.

[joyous88]

conservatives are criminals,

their religionist ilk in the christian community are nothing more than mindless sheep,

look at the last eight years of lieing evangelical filth in the white house, do you really want more of the same?????

[byeneocons]

The same Karl Rove who sold us the trustfunder from Texas is now trying to sell us the elderly liberal McCain.

There seems to be a corporate oil machine running the Republicans, and they snag votes waving bibles and crying over stem cells. They don''t care who the nominee is, Rove jumps into action and Rush pops another Oxycontin.

Same party, different clown.

[cons3rvative]

There has been a revelation recently in the republican party. We have realized that our party leaders, national media celebrities, and pundits do not speak for us anymore. Huckabee winning despite the fat cats selling us Romney and Mccain is proof that we are capable of making our own choice for nominee. Goodbye Karl Rove (now a foxnews contributor),Foxnews, Sean Hannity, Rush, and Anne Coulter! You are not our voice anymore!

[stezzer]

While American astronauts are working in space, this clown thinks he has half a chance of becoming President.

Think about it. A nation who put a man on the moon 40 years ago voting for some goon who believes the world is only 6000 years old.

Never heard of dinosaurs Mr. Huckabee? That''s odd, because you are one.

[schief4]

Once a Romney supporter and intrigued by Obama, I find it humorous that so many commentors need to use other people''s quotes to express themselves. Huckabee can run circles around your eloquence.

You''ll also note that none of this interview focused on religion. Stop being so afraid of something you obviously don''t understand.

As far as dropping out, the political process was designed by politicians, and Huckabee is playing by their rules. It''s what the democratic candidates are doing, so what is the difference? Kudos to them all for making this election a good example of what this country is based upon: free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and free choice. Hopefully whomever gets into office will keep this country free from tyranny, oppression, and assault by those who don''t have the same political freedoms we do.

[taotxzen]

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Huckabee gave an eight-minute address to the Thomas Road Baptist Church Sunday, arguing that increased regulation comes from a lack of moral clarity.

%u2018When I hear today people say, %u2018Well all of you people that talk about morality just need to keep that separate because it has nothing to do with this country,%u2019 let me just remind us all that the day that we do not have personal responsibility in our own moral commitments, the day that we do not understand what it is right and what is wrong is the day that we then have to compensate with additional levels of government,%u2019 Huckabee said.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Related Story:

Former Oral Roberts University accountant alleges $1billion a year funneled through school

A former senior accountant at Oral Roberts University alleges that more than $1billion annually was inappropriately funneled through the evangelical school. Trent Huddleston claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that he discovered an "unrestricted" account used to funnel "unusually large" sums of money through the university each month (which would exceed US$1billion on an annual basis) that was not used for any legitimate university purpose. University spokesman Jeremy Burton dismissed any wrongdoing, saying the allegations had "no basis in fact." John Tucker, an attorney for the university, said the petition appeared to be "grounded in fantasy." Huddleston, who was hired in 2006 and spent 15 months at the school, said he was discharged because school officials feared he would reveal that the account existed.

[Ruidu]

How funny is it watching all of the conservative elites race to %u201CMcCain-nedy%u201D for a seat at his Presidential table? First the GOP shoved liberal conservative H. Bush down our throats just for him to lose the White House. Then they shoved moderate constrictive W. Bush down our throats and he spent us into the poor house. Now they are shoving a liberal conservative down our throats again, John McCain, who must persuade the conservative base to fall in line for him for no reasons. What a Joke! The Republican Party will not receive another dime from me or my support. The conservative elites think their base is as liberal as them and McCain.

The liberal elites and conservative elites could not care less what their base thinks!

[iceman_1960]

"Muckabee is an lame excuse for a political figure."
- Posted by RandyNason at 06:41 PM : Feb 10, 2008

That"s why he believes in miracles.

"The blind receive sight, the lame walk..." - Matthew 11:15