Huckabee wins West Virginia caucus — despite surprisingly strong showing by Mitt? Update: Or weak showing? Update: Team Mitt whines about “backroom deal”
posted at 2:31 pm on February 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
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I can’t find WV polls to gauge, but Martha MacCallum claims Romney’s 41-33 win during the first round of balloting was a surprise. Huckabee won the caucus when McCain’s supporters were apparently told to throw their support to him and keep the state out of Mitt’s hands.
Bellwether of Mitt-mentum? Let me look around.
Update: If it’s a surprise, it sounds like a bad one. McCain didn’t show up, for one thing. Plus:
Huckabee bested Mitt Romney, who entered the Mountain State event with the largest bloc of pledged convention-goers. Both men and Ron Paul made in-person appeals to the more than 1,100 convention delegates attending Tuesday’s convention.
But the former Arkansas governor beat his Massachusetts counterpart after delegates for John McCain defected to his side.
Update: Mary K says she thought the Romney camp was counting on this one.
Update: Politico’s hearing what MK is hearing. Romney evidently thought he had this banked.
Update: It’s called strategic voting, Mitt. Get over it.
Update: Karl says the Romney spin is obligatory to remind voters of Huckabee’s stalking horse posture.
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Huck is so obviously McCain’s waterboy it isn’t even funny.
BKennedy on February 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
And Paul, don’t forget Paul’s ten percent–they went to Huck too.
Vanceone on February 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
There were only 1100 people voting… keep that in mind.
Vizzini on February 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Huckabee is such a disgrace
Zetterson on February 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Huck is there to trip up the conservative. Those two rino’s should be ashamed of themselves but they have no shame.
Huckabee is a low IQ televangelist. He sucketh!!
Its Mitt or democrats for me.
Roger Waters on February 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
WV is all about God, Guns and Government (or trial lawyers) taking care of your problems, so I had written this one off to Huckabee going in. It’s a very good sign for an elite yankee like Mitt to pull 41% there.
Dudley Smith on February 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
The huckster can no longer deny that he’s McCains lackey.
Twoconservative on February 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Mitt has had an organization in WV since 2006, he has spent a lot of money in the state. What is surprising is that he didn’t win it.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
I actually followed the WV race closely. It was a combination of McCain and Ron Paul voters (when Ron Paul was dropped and McCain voters all switched per McCain’s request) that delivered the victory to Huck. Everything evil is aligned against Mitt. Those are the breaks.
Igor R. on February 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Some Ron Paul supporters too. Mitt should have made friends with his other Republican competitors.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
This is the same state that sends a Klansman to Congress every election.
Color me not surprised.
SimplyKimberly on February 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
My understanding was that WV was something the Romney kids thought they had, because he had the only ground game to speak of and McCain didn’t even show up. Marc Ambinder reported that McCain reps were telling their supporters to switch to Huck to thwart Romney on the second ballot after Romney was leading in the first.
But maybe Romney’s expectations were lower.
marykatharine on February 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
I am truly growing to hate Huckabee.
What a slimey, used car salesman he is.
stenwin77 on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
McCain and Huckabee, and ALL of their supporters, should be ashamed.
Darksean on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Huck and McCain: Two of the most despicable human beings ever to be elected. “Scum” doesn’t even begin to describe them.
CABE on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
First of all, the primary won’t be held until later on. Second, it took Huckabee (and possibly Paul supporters) to defeat Mitt. The fact he won the first round with 41%, despite the main issues in WV, is surprising.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
it’s horseshit – Mitt did win. It’s a vile combination of liberalism and jealousy. Huckabee is anti-Republican and anti-conservative, and given his lying for John McCain, he’s not even true to his faith which he spouts at every turn.
Go Mitt.
darkegop on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Actually, in this case, McCain was Huck’s waterboy.
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Technically, he had more votes than any other candidate. Maneuvering by the other candidates denied him the ultimate win.
It’s stuff like this that makes me nervous about a brokered convention. Just because you have the largest number of supporters doesn’t mean you’re going to win.
Slublog on February 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
It`s just one state so far, but do we need to panic now?
ThePrez on February 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
True, but Huck’s only staying in to keep Mitt down and be viable for a McCain/Huckabee ticket. He knows damn well he can’t win.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I’m starting to have nightmares about a McCain/Huckabee ticket.
aero on February 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Sigh Im afraid it was again probably Mitt’s Mormonism that had effect there. Being from West Virginia that is how I was exposed to how evangelicals veiw Mormons. So if you wonder where I got the idea about Mitt’s mormonism hurting him it was from living in West Virginia.
BTW I also attended a Catholic Jesuit university in WV. I would be persona non grata as well even though Im not catholic.
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
No, Huck is McCain’s waterboy. Huck winning WV is just like Huck winning Iowa. A single win will justify another glorious Huck speech about how he never thought it possible, and he will remain in the race until the conclosion, then throw all his delegates to McCain.
It’s the perfect realpolitik strategy.
BKennedy on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Blarg.
doubleplusundead on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Correct. He won the most number of votes when people were deciding the candidate of their choice. He only lost when it became the strategic “Let’s all beat Mitt” round. It took the supporters of multiple candidates to beat him.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
That is the way a convention goes. You don’t usually win conventions by making everyone in the room hate you except your people. If we get to a brokered convention, IMHO, I don’t think Romney has a chance.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
The media will call a McCain/Huck ticket a “dream” ticket. The MSM hates Romney more than anything.
CABE on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
It also means that if Huck drops out, there’s no guarantee his voters would break for Romney. Dude.
Why do all of the other campaigns have such personal animosity for Romney? Does anyone know? They are clearly willing to band together to defeat him.
TX Mom on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Mitt has had an organization in WV since 2006, he has spent a lot of money in the state. What is surprising is that he didn’t win it.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
How much longer do we have to go on with this charade?
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Unfortunately, so do a lot of Republican voters, it would seem.
aero on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Final count was Huckabee 52%, Mitt 47%, McCain 1%.
So even with McCain’s votes, Huckabee only came in 2% above the requirement to win.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
That tears it! Ron Paul supporter should be expected to do crazy. But for McCain to throw EVERYTHING to Huckabee is a disgrace.
I will vote for Obama, or stay home. I just hope we get enough Republicans in the House and Senate to keep him in check. I am so disgusted with the Republicans at this point they may not get my vote either.
Be afraid! Be very afraid! If Republicans are doing this kind of crap, you better believe the Clintons are going to sandbag Obama.
Agrippa2k on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
You mean the electoral process?
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Maybe, but if he’s strong in the South, he could pick up a bunch of delegates and look to a brokered convention as well. With everything up in the air, and a couple of good showings, he has no reason to get out yet. It’s not like he’s done a lot worse than the others so far, even if his ceiling is low.
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
I’m baffled as to why Huckabee is still in.
4shoes on February 5, 2008 at 2:44 PM
That wouldn’t have appealed to McCain supporters. Maybe Huck and Paul supporters but the reason McCain supporters voted for Huck is most of us can’t stand the kind of politics Mitt plays.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Sooner or later you have to win something. The bum can’t even buy West Virginia? This is not a good sign for the Romineas.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Money. Most of these guys stay in as long as they are funded.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:45 PM
To win delegates. This result shows that he can.
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Im actually more shocked that Paul got 10%. West Virginians are utterly convinced that government is the solution to all our problems. Well the republicans at least have some doubts.
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:46 PM
The “bum” won the first round, only losing by 5% when the supporters of the other candidates came together to beat him. It took McCain and Huck’s supporters to defeat him in the strategic voting round.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:47 PM
McCain got the pro military vote. That is why GW wone WV in 2004 we are at least very patriotic.
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Someone is running is out of states.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 2:48 PM
If that makes you feel better. But that is how a convention works. You should be asking yourself, why didn’t they vote for my guy?
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:48 PM
It’s this sort of thing that makes me prefer primaries or caucuses, actually. One person, one vote is preferable to “darn, I didn’t win the first time, so let’s all gang up on the guy who did.”
Slublog on February 5, 2008 at 2:49 PM
A vote for Huckabee was literally a vote for McCain.
And to think that Huck had the gall to claim that was saying that in advance of Super Tuesday was “voter suppression”.
Buy Danish on February 5, 2008 at 2:49 PM
By the way the “HE” that they want to stop is not Mitt Romney. It is Rush Limbaugh.
I hope the McCain sycophants that threw away their votes get indigestion and nightmares as they realize what they have done tonight. Same for the Huckabums who realize the disgrace of this win.
It would be bad enough if they held their votes for McCain. At least that would have been honest. Would some Huckabums gone for Romney. We’ll never know.
Agrippa2k on February 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM
That’s why George Washington won the state as well, if I’m not mistaken.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM
How can a man of God be such a divisive, selfish political hack? Huck should be ashamed of his blatant power grab at the expense of Conservatives everywhere.
cannonball on February 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM
I hate to defend McCain, but it makes perfect sense for his supporters to prevent his main rival from winning. It would be strange, to say the least, if McCain’s people backed Romney.
infidel65 on February 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Uh, because they’re McCain supporters not interested in giving Mitt a victory. Whether they agree with Huck more isn’t really an issue. Even if Mitt is our second choice, do we hand him the first Super Tuesday victory?
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
‘
Since when has Romney been a conservative? Most conservative of the three perhaps, but a conservative he is not. Don’t kid yourselves, Mitt fans.
2Brave2Bscared on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
You shouldn’t be, the reason he’s in the race is clear:
Dislike the tactic all you like, but it was smart strategy on McCain’s part. Huckster is in it for one reason and one reason only: To help McCain.
Hollowpoint on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Dude, since only 16% were for McCain, using your (silly) argument, WVA is not a very patriotic state.
Buy Danish on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
I hear Ron Paul people gave Huckabee their votes in exchange for 3 delegates:
http://www.wsaz.com/political/misc/15267036.html
libertytexan on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Mitt is aligning himself with Rush and the ultra-right wing of the Republican party while saying bad things about Dole, so yea.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Heh you making fun of me ? Of course VIRGINIA would be all behing native son GW.
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:52 PM
I totally agree. Note to self: must avoid ever living in a caucus state.
Brat on February 5, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Slublog on February 5, 2008 at 2:49 PM
This was the first time the GOP did the Presidential election this way. I will actively work to see that it be the last time. Smoke filled back room politics has no place in the 21st century…
dish on February 5, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Huckabee is still in to run interference for McCain! He pulls conservative-leaning votes from Romney which clears the way for the moderate/liberal McCain. Huck is the spoiler. He is the primary version of Ross Perot. Make NO mistake.
Oink on February 5, 2008 at 2:52 PM
And he still kept Mitt from winning. How do you live with it ?
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Nothing unusual there.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Naw, just saw the GW and thought of old George.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Why didn’t they just go another round. They might have picked up Ron Paul’s votes. They might even have forced Romney to drop out.
This is a “cut and run” strategy. Pure and simple. Making deals with the devil. Is that leadership?
Agrippa2k on February 5, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Disgraceful kick in the groin of the conservative voter! McCain is getting on my last nerve. I have been a believer that if he gets the nomination I would vote for him because the alternative is worse. The problem is none of the general election candidates would represent me if he gets the nomination.
My head is spinning…my knees are weak..I think I am dying.
JDH on February 5, 2008 at 2:55 PM
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Until McJerka$$ gets his a$$ handed to him in Nov.
leanright on February 5, 2008 at 2:55 PM
William Amos on February 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
WJU?
dish on February 5, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Mmmmmmmmmm, Martha MacCallum. Mmmmmmmmm
Geronimo on February 5, 2008 at 2:58 PM
This is very bad news for Team Romney, who felt they had the state in the bag coming in, as we reported this morning.
Romney had the most extensive ground operation in the state of all the candidates.
He had 280 of the 1200 state delegates before voting began, the most of any candidate.
Not much of a confidence booster for the campaign before tonight’s big results.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0208/Romney_loses_West_Virginia_.html
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 2:58 PM
What happened to all the Romney fans hoping for a brokered convention. This “dirty” “back room politics” is exactly what a brokered convention would entail. In fact, the result would likely be the same, with the Huck and McCain roles reversed.
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Hola, mis amigos, paran por favor el conversar en inglés, mis amigos, ingleses son el latín del siglo XXI, mis amigos.
¿Él es la hora de aprender español, puede yo recomendar el anexo que aprende? – Juan
Dorvillian on February 5, 2008 at 2:59 PM
The blogs are buzzing about a potential deal made between McCain supporters – who bombed the first round – and Huckabee delegates.
Slublog on February 5, 2008 at 2:59 PM
I really miss Fred!
ConservativePartyNow on February 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM
I knew there was a reason that “Survivor” was so popular…
In the end I’m not sure that WV would’ve given Romney all that much momentum anyhow.
Hollowpoint on February 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 2:59 PM
I’d challenge you to find a comment where I was hoping for a brokered convention. What was McCain and Huck saying about BUYING an election?
dish on February 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Can anyone translate gibberish?
Geronimo on February 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Romney has not been a “conservative warrior”. He didn’t know there was a war on. But, he is conservative by nature. He thought Republicans were at least united by that. He knows better now.
When Romney appeared on the scene he looked like the rest of the field. Even Huck, because of his religiosity, was assumed to be conservative.
Fred was the only one who recognized the outrage that McCain and Huckabee represent (though he only used the contrast against the Democrats – why he lost).
Agrippa2k on February 5, 2008 at 3:01 PM
This is perhaps a reflection of the risks of a negative campaign. Give people a chance to hit back at the guy who ran negative ads, and the target’s supporters will take the opportunity.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh is discussing “collusion” between the Huckabee and McCain folks. But when McCain was knocked out, didn’t his supporters have to go somewhere? (Same deal for Ron Paul’s supporters.) If they had decided to go for Romney, would that have been considered “collusion” between McCain and Romney?
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDAyYzM5Y2NiZmU0NmU5NDFhZmNlMTQzNTJhN2E1ZTk=
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Yeah, of course. All it is is strategic voting. I told people in my post this morning to cross over and vote for Hillary.
Allahpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Shocker: Huckabee is asked on Fox who he’d pick as his nominee. He throws flowers around McCain, not for Mitt.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Quite so.
Allahpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I think the deal Liberty TX was linking to with Ron Paul getting two delegates to throw their towelie in with Huck is the real collusion.
dish on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I’m not saying that you have. However, plenty of people on this board have held out hope that Romney would roll into the convention and be chosen as the “unity” candidate. Sorry to say, that probably won’t happen, even if it does come down to the convention.
Big S on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
What are you on drugs?
Agrippa2k on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Considering we have the highest per capita enlistment rate, I’m going to call bull$hit on that.
natesnake on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Not sure McCain would be stupid enough to pick Huck, but he damn sure owes him BIG.
BacaDog on February 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Huckabee what a real jerk. I think he is a DNC plant for real!!
thmcbb on February 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
This had little or nothing to do with “negative” ads. McCain smeared Mitt on Iraq right before the Florida Primary. It was a matter of not handing Mitt a victory because it’d put a victory over their guy.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Since the blockquoting didn’t capture the “charade” TCO refers to, I’ll state that it is the “charade” of Romney’s candidacy. The answer is – Not nearly as long as the actual charade that we have of a thimble-full worth of difference on anything beyond the War on Terror between the RepubicRATs and the DhimmiRATs.
steveegg on February 5, 2008 at 3:05 PM
By the time the WV primary is held the campaigns figure that everyone will know who the Republican nominee is. Mitt’s team expected to get this one and to have it as an early win to trumpet in robocalls in CA.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Uh oh. Exit polling in southern states shows a surge for HUCKMANIA. Tennesse and Georgia are going to be to close to call. Romenee is definately not winning Georgia which hurts. Not to mention his slander of Dole today means he can’t even come to Kansas for the saturday primary. Night Night Mitt.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Fox: McCain campaign hq told supporters to back Huckabee in order to beat Mitt.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Kids coming home from school now. I’m going to have to explain what WV just did in the caucus to my son, a VERY smart 13 yr old. He will be, bless his heart, so disappointed.
dish on February 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Mitt has been running a pretty negative campaign all along, and now, with the help of the bloggers and talk radio, which he is encouraging, it has become viral.
bnelson44 on February 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
You’re quite adept at moving goal posts aren’t you? You really are insufferable at times.
Huckabee is the one who kept Mitt from winning, and proved that a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain.
Buy Danish on February 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
My point isn’t that he can win that to help him. My point was, in response to someone else’s comment, that this wasn’t a primary where all Republicans went to cast their ballots. It was a convention with strategic voting and several round, with supporters dedicated to defeat Mitt.
amerpundit on February 5, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Considering we have the highest per capita enlistment rate, I’m going to call bull$hit on that.
natesnake on February 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
You may want to stay out of discussion which go over your head. I am not saying that West Virginians are not Patriotic! I was taking issue with William Amos’ idiotic argument.
Buy Danish on February 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM
There’s always Utah. At least Mitt will win that.
The good news for the party is that the vetting process is working and we are not going to be stuck with a loser like Mitt in the General Election.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Huck is sickening. That he would so actively support McCain shows he’s a true slime!
JellyToast on February 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
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