McCain Doubts He’ll Debate Huckabee, Keeps Sights on Obama
John McCain made it clear Wednesday he has little interest in holding any more debates with GOP rival Mike Huckabee before the March 4 primaries, which could push him over the numerical threshold needed for the Republican presidential nomination.
Huckabee, who is trailing McCain by more than 700 delegates, challenged the Arizona senator to debate in a letter Tuesday.
“We have a pretty hard and fast schedule,” McCain said Wednesday. “We’ve debated 16 times so we’ll examine it … but frankly I doubt it.”
Huckabee asked McCain to join him for a “Lincoln-Douglas-style debate so that voters can better understand our views on critical issues such as health care, education, energy independence, terrorism and national security.”
He noted that Obama and Hillary Clinton have had that opportunity — the two Democrats debated in Cleveland Tuesday night for their 20th and last time before March 4.
“It seems only fitting to me that Republican primary voters are offered the same,” Huckabee wrote.
McCain had said earlier in the day that his campaign never heard from Huckabee about a debate, despite the fact that Huckabee has been making the request publicly since Mitt Romney dropped out.
McCain is instead focusing on Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama, who traded jabs with him Wednesday over comments Obama made at Tuesday’s debate about fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq. McCain has sharpened his focus on Obama as he’s racked up victories over Huckabee, and has challenged the Illinois senator on his support of earmarks and his hedging on a pledge to use public financing in a general election.
Despite their good relations, Huckabee has said repeatedly he will challenge McCain until the GOP convention in Minnesota in September. A week ago, Huckabee defended McCain during the uproar over a New York Times article that linked him to a female Washington lobbyist.
Polls show Huckabee has not faded away in Ohio and Texas, which vote March 4.
An American Research Group poll from Feb. 23-24 showed McCain with a slim 4-point edge over Huckabee in Texas, leading 45 to 41 percent. The same group showed McCain with an 11-point lead in Ohio.
Senior staffers told FOX News that while the American Research Group polls can differ wildly at times, the crowds for Huckabee have been considerably bigger than the crowds for McCain; a sign, they say, that Huckabee is gaining formidable ground in the Lone Star state.
FOX News’ Serafin Gomez and Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
I had expected to see at least a couple of Republican debates prior to March 4. I can only assume that John McCain fears a debate. I think it is an injustice to all republican voters. I am a registered republican and for the first time in my life I honestly do not know if I will vote. If John McCain becomes the nominee and he can not stand up to a debate with a competing canidate, how can I possibly turn out and vote for him. I do not like how this campaign has been handled and it appears there MUST be some heavy influence keeping the other canidates from getting a fair campaign. What is happening to our Country!!!
I have checked back couple of times the day this article was a fresh issue. It had been my constant experience for while that no pro-Huckabee post ever appeared, so I started to send messages to the moderators to stop blocking the posts, but those messages I have never expected to appear here. Anyway, thanks for finally allowing the posts to appear.
To, TEXAS is McCain’s ,
I read your post saying basically that you don’t want us (Real Christian Conservative Voters) to vote for McCain if we don’t like him. You did write Keep your vote we don’t want them.
I’m sure after the way McCain has ignored Huckabee he doesn’t want them either.
I wonder how McCain can win the election with out the South, Some thing he should have thought about? I question the people who are working for him, if I were McCain I’d fire them, he’s getting bad advice on this one, or he’s not thinking smart.
You also wrote Huckabee is insignificant to McCain and McCain doesnt need to waste his time debating Huck…get lost Huck!!
Who are you to say Huckabee is insignificant? I’m sure when McCain loses he’ll have along time too think how Significant Huckabee the Debate he ignored really was.
John McCain is a COWARD he is afraid to debate Mike Huckabee
John McCain is the Past
Mike Huckabee is the Future
Nobody wants a Republican any more. They have been in office for 6 looooooong years. Its Democratics time to shine!!!!!
OBAMA 08
I figured McCain would run if he was concerned what us republicans wanted he would do the debate I think McCain did great service for this country in the past but he needs to move on I mean he is at home for the weekend that means 2 things he’s old & tired or he don’t care McCain thinks he got the nomination in the bag well Huckabee is coming for him and if the media would have put his name out there and showed support I don’t think McCain would be the front runner
Dear Mr. McCain,
I am for Mike Huckabee for president. However, if he does not get the nomination, I had planned on voting for you. But now that you can’t seem to find the time for a debate with Mike Huckabee, I don’t think I will be able to find the time to vote for you. You have really dissapointed me. Please reconsider.
Karmen Myers
Registered Republican Voter
Georgia
I think McCain and the other Republican candidates SHOULD have a debate, so we know where they stand on the issues. We have a RIGHT as Americans to vote because of who WE BELIEVE is the right candidate, who best speaks for US and OUR VALUES!
Too bad McCain’s dad and grandpa aren’t around to hold his hand now…..What’s he going to do? Nothing….because of his “apparent” coronation, the dem’s will win. McCain is a buffoon.
Of course McCain would never debate Huckabee. There’s not enough catch phrases to follow, “My friends….” like….”pork barrel”, “surge”, “radical Islamic terrorists,” …that’s the only three he knows….and oh yeah, “Do you come here often”…..He’s a joke.