Huckabee Drops Bid for Republican Presidential Nomination
IRVING, Texas — Mike Huckabee bowed to reality Tuesday and out of the Republican presidential race.
“We kept the faith,” he told his end-of-the-road rally Tuesday after John McCain clinched the nomination. “I’d rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place.”
The genial conservative won the leadoff Iowa caucuses, making him a sudden but short-lived sensation, and then seven other states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kansas. Meantime, John McCain piled up big victories on his way to winning the prize on Tuesday night.
The writing was on the wall for weeks, but the former Arkansas governor hung on until McCain secured the necessary delegates.
“We started this effort with very little recognition and virtually no resources,” Huckabee told supporters. “We ended with slightly more recognition and very few resources.”
The crowd laughed. “But what a journey,” he said. “What a journey. A journey of a lifetime.”
Huckabee rarely raised a negative word during the campaign about McCain, a man he clearly likes, and he called him Tuesday night to congratulate him.
Huckabee said he extended “my commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country.”
Huckabee vowed: “We aren’t going away completely. We want to be a part of helping to keep the issues alive that have kept us in this race.”
An ordained Baptist minister himself, Huckabee spoke the language of the pastors and preached in their megachurches. He compared abortion to slavery and played up his opposition to gay marriage.
At breakfasts and large gatherings with national Christian leaders, Huckabee urged pastors to use their address books and e-mail lists to mobilize their flocks.
For a time, conservatives dissatisfied with McCain were drawn to Huckabee, but the party began to unite behind the likely — and now certain — nominee.
Actually I like John McCain, but then, I’m an Independent.
Well, the Hucks miracle has passed. The miracle of a come behind victory that never had a chance. Mark my words. Mike Huckabee will be at the same disaster creating tactics in 2012, that is if Mitt Romney runs again. The republican party has a up-hill battle for the presidency, maybe Huckabee can pull off a miracle for John McCain.
Or maybe not. Mark my words.
I am saddened that Mike Huckabee will not be in the running anymore. I feel that he has a lot of the moral and protectional issues of the United States at heart. I also feel he has the backbone to get the job as President done as well as the honesty to follow through with his statements. He had my Vote and I wish he were still running for President. Thank you for listening to my comment. Laurie G
Mike Huckabee is a man of great honor; there are few lcandidates who stand for righteous and integrity but Huckabee, throughout his campaign, stood for both. I am sorry to see him leave. He has the making of a good president.
We concur with America’s vote AGAINST Michael Dale Huckabee. This man does not believe in freedom of religion and therefore does not agree with us on a most critical issue.
We encourage all those that support this man, to ask themselves, why do we support a bigot?
I like how everyone was jumping on Romney for endorsing McCaian and now that Huckabee has done the same there is not a peep!
Not only has he endorsed McCain he is going to campaign for him.
What happened to the people taht said Jesus told them Huckabee would win? hmm….
Hypocrites!
I repspect the fight he put up but the fans are a whole differnt story.
The GOP is in more trouble than what it realizes. If you look at the numbers of Dems v. reps. at the booths Dems more than doubled us.
Go McCain!
Not everyone who considers themselves a conservative wants Huckabee’s version of a christian nation.
He’s not wiser than the founding fathers(who were careful NOT to make this a christian nation).
Freedom of…has to mean freedom from… or we’d be just like Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Good riddance to him!!
I’m sorry Mike Huckabee is gone. Now all of you cult members will lapse into your comas, and no one will care about you until the next holy-roller politician needs the votes of the gullible masses. I suppose that there will be blithering about the vice presidential spot, but that is even less to be taken seriously than his presidential run. Mike was a tool and no longer serves a purpose. (Refer to the story of Absolom’s sister in 1 Kings.) I had such hope for you, and now you will be on your own. I mourn your loss.