US News
Super Tuesday result: Huckabee takes West Virginia on spoiler vote
Feb 5, 2008, 20:02 GMT
Washington - Third-place Republican contender Mike Huckabee Tuesday won 18 of West Virginia's delegates to the Republican convention thanks to the last-minute spoiler backing from lead contender John McCain.
The victory was the first final result reported during tension- packed Super Tuesday - the largest and toughest scramble for party presidential nominations in US history, with 43 contests in 24 states.
The decision for Huckabee was made at West Virginia's Republican State Convention - the only of its kind happening Tuesday.
McCain, 71, threw his backing to Huckabee, 52, on a second round of balloting to prevent McCain's chief rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, 60, from taking the prize, the Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette reported online.
McCain is far ahead in nationwide polls and could nail down the Republican nomination on Tuesday thanks to the winner-take-all rules that govern Republican state primary election rules. Remaining state results are expected after 0001 GMT.
On the first round of balloting, Romney took 40.9 per cent of the vote, with Huckabee taking 33.1 per cent, McCain 15.5 per cent and Ron Paul, a lagging contender, 10.4 per cent.
After behind-the-scenes bartering, McCain's supporters threw enough support to give Huckabee 52 per cent - two points more than the 50 per cent needed for a decision. Romney ended up with 47 per cent and McCain with only 1 per cent.
In accord with most Republican Party state rules, the winner of the state convention will take all 18 delegates to September's Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The state convention delegates were chosen in online and mail-in balloting last month.
Another nine West Virginia delegates will be chosen on May 13, when voters will directly choose in three congressional districts. The state's three remaining delegates will be party officials likely to remain uncommitted until the convention.
West Virginia Democrats will elect all of their delegates on May 13. Most Democratic Party rules assign delegates according to vote percentages, meaning the neck-and-neck race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could last well into March and beyond.
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Older Talkback
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Woohoo!!!!! take that radio talk show hosts and liberal media that has TRIED to shut Governor Huckabee down- He took his case straight to the people and BEAT the Romney money machine...ina a state he wasn't even predicted to do well in...Maybe Romney should drop out of the race and stop taking votes from Huckabee!!!!!! 18 delegates for the real Governor...Congratualtions Governor Huckabee-YOU DESERVE IT!!!!
way to try to spin it- the only spoiler is Romney- step aside for the REAL GENUINE GOVERNOR- Mike Huckabee!!!!
10 + years as Governor-& RE-elected 3 times vs Romney's one term...HMMM...Huckabee has spent 7 million to Romney's 87 MILLION ...HMMM...OF COURSE Romney wants him out of the race DUH because like it or not Governor Huckabee is an experienced giant killer! He is about to take Romney down! In Governor Huckabee we FINALLY have a candidate,- who after all of the verbal stumbles of the Bush presidency can ARTICULATE Republican principles with warmth, wit, & wisdom. Remember the giant killer only picked up 5 smooth stones...can those be called geogia, alabama, tennesee, AR, Missouri? We will see---I sure hope so for our countries sake! If the republicans are smart and not stuck in their ways Huckabee SHOULD BE on the ticket in 08- but go aheaed and run someone without any charisma and see how bad you establichment know it all types get SMOKED by the demoncrats!!!
You Huckaburger idiots just don't get it. He can't win on his own! He scrapes up Iowa's evangelicals and his bedmate McCain throws the vote to him in W. Virginia!! Where's a solid victory for him? He doesn't have any! Get over yourselves and realize that a vote for the Huckster is a wasted vote for McCain.
if mccain gets in he will be twice as bad as bush is.
You've got Hucklueberry, Mutt Romney and that tired old dog, what's his name, McCain. NONE of these are presidential material, if you take a realistic look at them.
I can't belive our system allows for that kind of crap!
The republicans haven't put forward a candidate who is presidential material since Eisenhower.
RE:' On the first round of balloting, Romney took 40.9 per cent of the vote, with Huckabee taking 33.1 per cent, McCain 15.5 per cent and Ron Paul, a lagging contender, 10.4 per cent.'
Calling Ron Paul a 'lagging contender' is a mistake. The man's ideals are very close to the purist of American ideals. What is clear from his message, however, is how Libertarians intend to apply their socio-economic theories in this day-in-age, is dangerously muddled.
Notice, however, that the attractiveness of the Libertarian message is improving. Breaking into double digits anywhere in any poll is a serious improvement over the Libertarian's past experience. They are here to stay and when they get their act together, I hope I am still alive to lend them my support.
Keep shooting, Libertarians. You get closer to the target every time you try.
'Calling Ron Paul a 'lagging contender' is a mistake.'
You are absolutely correct. He's a dead duck.
RE:'You are absolutely correct. He's a dead duck.'
This time around, yes. It is unlikely that Doctor Paul will run for the White House again, so it will remain for another Libertarian to take up the banner. Libertarians are, in my opinion, smarter than the average Politician. Sooner or later they will get it right and that will be the end of politics as we know it today.
Noharness:
'Libertarians are, in my opinion, smarter than the average Politician. Sooner or later they will get it right and that will be the end of politics as we know it today.'
Of course they are, aren't you a Libertarian? The only problem is they cannot win anything---smarter maybe but can't win the big one.
So what?
this guy is just making it easier for McCain and in reality is running for Vice President. All of you Bible thumpers really need to move to the south, elect the Huckster as your President and Chuck Norris as your vice president. Then leave us the hell alone.
Look at the mess we are in with your last 'christian conservative' President. We will be lucky to survive the 'Texas idiots'.
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DeseretianFeb 5th, 2008 - 20:19:04
Yep, that's Ol' Straight Talk. What a jerk. I can't believe McCain's so worried that Romney will get West Virginia that he's got to do that. Oh, and the Dole thing is a joke too.
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