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."

[candide777]

What''s really frightening is the prospect of McCain picking Huckabee for VP -- you know McCain isn''t going to finish his first term, so whoever he picks, we are very likely stuck with, and that should scare the Be-Jesus out of you! I wouldn''t be surprised if Rove asked McCain to run just to secure the White House for republicans with the idea that he will step down after a year for "health reasons."

[barbaraf4]

If anyone knows who will win the November election, it is Karl Rove. He designed the Government of, by and for big business. It took 8 years and now we will pay a lifetime to reverse his evil deeds.

[ioweign]

What''''s really frightening is the prospect of McCain picking Huckabee for VP -- you know McCain isn''''t going to finish his first term, so whoever he picks, we are very likely stuck with, and that should scare the Be-Jesus out of you! I wouldn''''t be surprised if Rove asked McCain to run just to secure the White House for republicans with the idea that he will step down after a year for "health reasons."

Posted by Candide777 at 01:44 PM : Feb 10, 2008


Huckabee IS different and not in a nice way - my wife scolds me when I call him - "Walleye"...

[downtowner97]

Funny thing is, Ron Paul hasn''t dropped out of the race either, but the media has stopped naming him. The vote totals have been as much as 21% light (Washington State) because the media won''t cover him, but they don''t seem to care.

Paul has many independent and Democrat supporters, but most of the states'' polls won''t allow you to vote for someone outside your party.

Ron Paul would do very well as an independent, especially if it ends up being a race between Hillary and McCain.

[jerr11]

Good for you!

Actually I like this guy. He''s got a few cuckoo ideas such as the flat tax and intelligent design.

But he seems a decent man, no trophy wife, down-to-earth charm, a genuine person all around.

And he''s not afraid to criticize the Liar-in-Chief in the white house.

Go, Mike, go!

[antoniof123]

It won''t matter Hucky or MaCain neither will win because the boy genius has done such a good job of causing division in America.

Funny all he had to do was leave well enough alone and then MaCain would have had a chance.

[prinzowhales]

The following candidates are running for the Constitution Party nomination:

Dr. Corsi wrote THE LATE GREAT USA and writes at World Net Daily...Alan Keyes, former Reagan State Department official and NSC member...Senator Bob Smith...Judge Roy Moore who stood up for the right of Alabama''s citizens and officials the right to have any d*mned thing they want in their court houses and court rooms...Chuck Baldwin, a Baptist minister, ran as vp candidate for the Party in 2004 and is a staunch opponent of Bush, Hucksterbee, Romney and the national Democrats as well.

Hucksterbee should remain in the race, as Dr. Paul has done...anything that will hurt McCain is alright by me. Romney held on to his delegates as well. McCain is a dangerous lunatic.

The governor of Texas, a slick no-good scum-bag... Rick Perry...has asked him to leave the race...What better reason to stay?! Perry supports the Trans Texas Corridor which will cost millions of acres of prime land to provide a corridor for Mexican trucks to travel to the new Mexican customs station in Kansas, City, Missouri without inspection at the border...Goods made by slaves in China will be unloaded at Mexican docks by low-wage Mexican workers--By the way...Good move Unions!--supporting two Democrats who will support this!...Looks like you G-- D--- sorry-arsed Union people could at least get your union officials to rent a brain with all the dues you pay. :)............

[bigsk8fan]

it''s just like republicans. they forget they are in the united states of america. they want to force out legitimate presidential candidates even before their political convention. republicans just can''t stand democracy.

[chris_taylo3]

GO HUCK!

[davide73-2009]

Why does this article having Huckabee''s name in the title but concludes by talking about Obama and Hillary?

Never mind. We believe in miracles, Mike.

[bdrlnt4rl]

has anyone ever wondered that the christians say ''do what jesus would do'' but yet they do not, except on sunday?

[glossypan]

Total Primary & Caucus Votes
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Democrats to date 2008: 19,106,925
Total votes in 2000 Democratic primary: 14,013,416
**
Republicans to date 2008: 13,068,076
Total votes in 2000 Republican Primary: 19,519,539
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Vote counts are from George Mason University''s US Elections Project.
These totals include Florida and Michigan, which were
only beauty contests (no delegates selected) on the Democratic side.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Republicans - this is the year you pay for nominating crooks and incompetents and incompetent crooks for the presidency and Congress. A few dozen of your worst scoundrels in Congress have already abandoned ship. And yet you guys are still going to nominate a "more of the same" disastrous Bush policies presidential candidate.

[bdrlnt4rl]

has anyone ever notice that the christians believe what the bible says, but yet they do not love one another as jesus does. hucky has already proved this in his religious intolerance. do we really want this quality in a pres????

[prinzowhales]

Why are Americans saddled with the Oligarch''s bought dogs as candidates? One reason can be seen right here at CBS...one page is devoted to Hucksterbee... five pages to an Arkansas beauty queen beaten to death in 2005. Americans spend half a minute gobbling up the CBS monkey chow and then go for a long drink out of the info-tainment toilet.

[rfcrtl]

I am a Hillary fan but would seriously consider voting for Huckabee if it would somehow be Obama vs. Huck.

[samthetvcat]

pt 2

To that I would say that if the race comes down to Hillary and McCain and Evangelicals force McCain to pledge to further their agenda, you''re likely to lose a lot of the Independents who would have otherwise voted for McCain which then might have given him the election.

I''m so exasperated with how this Southern Baptist denomination has somehow turned into the culture''s definition of the Christian platform. I suppose part of that problem lies with we more moderate Christians who believe freedom of religion literally means separation of Church and State, and therefore we don''t make our views known. Ideologically that is our platform, but since abortion and same-*** rights are Right-wing political platforms I do feel the need to provide an alternative view.

Ideally, there''d be no unwanted pregnancies and therefore no need for abortions. I''m hopeful that technology will one day make this debate moot by inventing some sort of pill that can be taken right before intercourse like viagara to prevent pregnancies or something like that. Until then based on the stories I''ve heard about women dying when they tried to get backroom abortions, I think Evangelicals need to either step up to the plate and provide support for women with unplanned pregnancies and also become more active with adoptions or else own up to the fact that in trying to save the life of unborns, they''re also putting the lives of pregnant women at risk.

[samthetvcat]

pt 1

He''s a Southern Baptist minister - I would guess with like 99% confidence Huckabee''s in the race to spread the word of God as the Evangelicals interpret it.

When Huckabee lost in SC in part because something like 25% of Evangelicals voted for McCain and like a half of the rest voted for Thompson, and then only got 13% in Florida, I think a lot of us thought the Evangelicals were saying well hey maybe the Economy and the War take priority right now. But McCain doesn''t support furthering some of those political platforms that many of the ''values'' voters do - stuff to do with abortion, same-*** rights, and teaching creationism (also stem-cell research).

I would guess Huckabee''s interested in ensuring those ''values'' don''t get tossed aside by whoever ultimately wins the Election, and by winning primaries he gets to show how strong the support is for many of those positions (?) Like I don''t get the sense Huckabee''s primarily motivated by trying to win the position of Presidency but if it actually happens all the better (?)

[samthetvcat]

pt 2

Now what about Leviticus 18:22:
"And with a man you shall not lie with as a man lies with a woman; it is an abomination."

Isn''t it possible this was intended to close the ''Larry Craig'' loophole? It''s saying that just like it is an ''abomination'' to cheat on your wife with a woman it would be an ''abomination'' to cheat on your wife with a man.

* * *

Finally, consider Deuteronomy 22:20-21:
"But if this charge is true, that the girl was not found a virgin, then they shall bring out the girl to the doorway of her father''s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death"

Why are Evangelicals so fixated on condemning g@ys when almost all of us have pre-marital *** these days?

* * *

Homosexuality has been proven scientifically to be largely innate, so if God in his perfect wisdom has created homosexuality isn''t it more likely that human condemnation is the ''sin'' and not the homosexuality? Perhaps God is testing our tolerance...

[samthetvcat]

pt 1

In terms of g@y rights, I question whether this is God''s love at work in Evangelical''s hearts or whether it''s bigotry and intolerance.

Leviticus 20:13 says:
"If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death"

But contrast that with Deuteronomy 22:22-24:
"If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die"

Textualism is still subject to a lot of interpretation, and obviously Deuteronomy 22:22-24 isn''t referring to a man having *** with his wife. So why not make that same assumption with Leviticus 20:13?

[fibonacci_]

Dear Mr. Huckabee,

Please leave the race, and take your bible with you.

Sincerely,
Fibonacci

[ontheleft]

Not leaving the race? McCain ought to hire a hit man to take Huckabee out. Geesh.

[yongamerica]

Huckabee: I''m Not Leaving The Race
Note to Huckabee: The Race has Left you Behind

[bdrlnt4rl]

has anyone ever notice that the christians believe what the bible says, but yet they do not love one another as jesus does. hucky has already proved this in his religious intolerance. do we really want this quality in a pres????


has anyone ever wondered that the christians say ''''do what jesus would do'''' but yet they do not, except on sunday?

[johnnye6]

"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."

He should know, he got a president elected who had lots less experience than Obama and Bush has proved basically clueless on the issues.

[samthetvcat]

Okay, they just showed Huckabee on CNN and he said outright he''s staying in the race to spread the word of God.

He''s a minister so spreading the Southern Baptists'' interpretation of the word of God is obviously his life''s work (and the Evangelicals don''t separate Church from State - hence the political activism), but I think it''s important to point out that a lot of people who have seen the math and know McCain is the virtual nominee seem to be tossing votes Huckabee''s way just to stick it to McCain. So it''s not like ALL these votes are pro-Evangelical plaform I don''t think . . .

[boatdocster]

I applaud Huckabee though I would not vote for him, nor do I think he will overtake McCain. Numbers wise, he could win but its slim; clearly many GOP voters are not happy with McCain.

His actions represent what needs to happen in American politics - people need, deserve and are entitled to vote for a candidate of their choice, NOT WHAT A PARTY SELECTS, not what delegates or caucuses select, not what the Electoral College selects...

The only reason the GOP wants Huck to bail is so they can focus all of their smear, Swift Boat, Pencil Head Bill O''Reily-Shawn Hannity-Rush Limbaugh money on Hillary or Obama early in the race.

This is the first Presidential race in 25 years that has some real fire. Let the cards play out.

Johnnye6 - You are spot on - 20 George W. Bushes would not make 1 Hillary or Obama. Rove could sell a GOP ***** sandwich to a starving man.

[bdrlnt4rl]

has anyone ever notice that the christians believe what the bible says, but yet they do not love one another as jesus does. hucky has already proved this in his religious intolerance. do we really want this quality in a pres????

has anyone ever noticed that christians say ''''do what jesus would do'''' but yet they do not, except on sunday. oh wait, they all go out to eat after church, they do not even keep the sabbath holy!

[radiob-2009]

Huckabee: I''m Not Leaving The Race


Only a matter of time before he "awakens" to realize that his chances of winning the general election let alone the primary are slim to none. It is a two person race now McCain and Obama. Four more years of stagnanation and no leadership.

[heartlandjim]

Mike Huckabee is the best candidate; that''s why he keeps winning. John McCain has gone into hiding hoping his cronies can carry the day for him. Keep voting for Mike, folks. I prefer a man who stands tall and says what he thinks. Mike is a good and honest man and will be a great leader. Keep voting for Mike! It''s the Republican way!

[ontheleft]

I hope Huckabee is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame because after the race is over he''s going back into obscurity.

[donbl1]

Huckabee''s stating he is "looking for a miracle" would be OK from a non-ordained minister.

However, because of his background, his statement is putting "God" in judgement. If Huckabee wins out then God wins. If Huckabee loses then God loses.

I believe this is a bad decision on Huckabee''s part and he should either withdraw his comments (somehow) or suspend his campaign.

[nmsuip]

Coming from the likes of Rove (or the Clintons), "...awfully thin, both on experience and on the issues..." basically means that he''s not entrenched in the status quo. Obama is a riskier candidate. Hillary represents the Democratic establishment so she is perceived as a "safer" choice. Chances are she will get the nomination. However, chances are that she will also improve McCain''s chances of winning the general election. Obama has a thin but statistically significant (= greater than error margin) advantage over McCain.

[rosesnpearls]

Rove is a dufus. Of course polls show McCain running even with either Democrat. That''s because tons of people will vote for ANYONE before they''d vote for Hillary or Obama. I am absolutely ashamed of my governor (Texan, Rick Perry) deciding that the voters of Texas and other states shouldn''t have an opportunity to choose between the Republican candidates like other states have. Who is he to decide whether they have a voice or not? Running even with the Democrats as Rove said, is not a win - it''s a draw.

[walt1944-2009]

The Reverand "Huckster" Huckabee vows that he will stay in the race until "someone" gets the required number of delegates.

Naturally, we have heard this before from other candidates who claimed they were in the fight for the "long haul" and ended up dropping out 2 weeks later. Sam Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Fred Thompson, John Edwards, and most recently "Mittens" Mitt Romney have all become casualties in this race.

I am expecting that one day soon someone from the RNc is going to have a nice long talk with the "Huckster" telling him that "for the good of the party" he should do the right thing and step aside so "Bagdad" John can get the nomination.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[excoachken]

I assume that Gomer Hucklberry is talking about the "human race" since he has never really been in the Presidential Race.

[bobacorn]

I assume that Gomer Hucklberry is talking about the "human race" since he has never really been in the Presidential Race.
Posted by exCoachKen

---------------------------------

LOL !

[iceman_1960]

"Huckabee: I"m Not Leaving The Race"

The race left you a while ago, Reverend.

[iceman_1960]

Too bad he won"t be our president.

Huckabee was going to reduce the rising inflation in grocery purchases by feeding the multitude with a few loaves and fishes.

He didn"t major in mathematics. He majored in miracles.

[iceman_1960]

"Rove, a Fox News analyst, admitted having donated to the McCain campaign..."

Does Karl Rove enjoy Secret Service protection ?

He"s rich enough to afford his own bodyguards without sticking the taxpayers with that bill.

[pareidolia-2009]

He didn"t major in mathematics. He majored in miracles.

Posted by Iceman_1960

Good one.

[downtowner97]

There are 4 true or false questions that evangelists have trouble with that keeps me from wanting to vote for them:

1 True or false: All terrorist acts in the US have been conducted by Muslims.

2 True or false: We were attacked by Iraq on 9/11.

3 True or false: Christianity is the #1 religion on the planet and the only one in America.

4 True or false: Science is more important to the prosperity of the country than Religion.

[bdrlnt4rl]

has anyone ever notice that the christians believe what the bible says, but yet they do not love one another as jesus does. hucky has already proved this in his religious intolerance. do we really want this quality in a pres????

has anyone ever noticed that christians say ''''''''do what jesus would do'''''''' but yet they do not, except on sunday. oh wait, they all go out to eat after church, they do not even keep the sabbath holy!

[downtowner97]

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don''t do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"

He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"
Northern Conservative%u2020Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

Emo Philips

[randynason]

Muckabee is an lame excuse for a political figure. I guess he never heard of "separation of church and state." As far as I''m concerned, organized religion, evangelism and fundamentalisn notwithstanding, are what is wrong with this world today. More harm has been done in the name of "religion" than any other single cause and this "messenger of God" is no exception.

[downtowner97]

More great religious jokes by Emo Philips:

When I was a kid, I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realised, the Lord doesn''t work that way. So I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me ... and I got it!

7 So I''m at the wailing wall, standing there like a moron, with my harpoon."

7 A Mormon told me that they don''t drink coffee. I said, "A cup of coffee every day gives you wonderful benefits." He said, "Like what?" I said, "Well, it keeps you from being Mormon ..."

7 I''m not Catholic, but I gave up picking my belly button for lint.

7 When I was a kid my dad would say, "Emo, do you believe in the Lord?" I''d say, "Yes!" He''d say, "Then stand up and shout Hallelujah!" So I would ... and I''d fall out of the roller coaster

[jonsid2]

Huck reminds me of a kid on the playground that nobody really wants to play with, but they play with him just enough so his feelings don''t get hurt. All the while he thinks he''s a really popular kid and nobody dares tell him the truth. He should stay in because he brings a lot of smiles to me. Kinda reminds me of Gomer Pyle or Forrest Gump.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

It is also in my view false to say that life in AMERICA today is solely determined by considerations of foreign policy, that the primacy of foreign policy governs today the whole of our domestic life. Certainly a people can reach the point when foreign relations influence and determine completely its domestic life. But let no one say that such a CONDITION is from the first either natural or desirable. Rather the important thing is that a people should CREATE the conditions for CHANGE in this state of affairs.

We know by the charisma who said this!
Answer

Hit-lers quote Jan 27 1932

[randynason]

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don''''t do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
Posted by downtowner97

This is absolutely hilarious! You hit the nail right on the proverbial head, my friend! LOL!

[bill1fj]

I don''t think mccain can win the republican nomination now. Huckabee will probably win most, if not all, the states in the remaining primaries.
Mccain is not even really a Republican any more.
Run Huck Run

From a FORMER McCain Supporter

[jonsid2]

How could the people of Arkansas ever have elected him Governor? But then again, they also elected Clinton as Governor. Kinda makes me afraid to drive through that state.