Big Wins for Obama and Huckabee

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Mike Barone--don't sweat all this negativity! It'd be illogical to think this election doesn't break down along the lines you've highlighted. It has and will...
If Huckster wins the nomination, we will end up with a democratic president. Probably Hillary after they pull the rug out from under Obama...
I'd love to see Obama get the nod so that Mccain can landslide him in November. (Blacks ARE capable of thinking for themselves, which is why they will begin to leave the dems in large numbers, starting this fall. Latinos ARE capable of thinking for themselves, which is why they too will find a home w/ the GOP after they feel used and abused by Hillary and the machine...

Justin of AK 2:58PM February 12, 2008

If Huckabee wins VA today, then the nomination will most likely go to Huckabee. Huckabee was down by large margins in the polls in VA prior to Super Saturday. The depth of the convergence of conservatives will be made clear today!

Winner of NE 8:18AM February 12, 2008

Your analysis last week of how everyone's game plan failed was brilliant. Your comments today are not as insightful.
Look at the math in the Republican primary. Tomorrow is the last pair of WTA contests. The remaining big states like TX, OH, and PA are proportional, and most of the remaining small states are red and proportional.
McCain is only ahead today because the conservative vote was split. He got in the mid 30's in all of his key victories, and only did well in the blue states. He must win more than 41% of the remaining delegates. The base loathes him for his actions over the past eight years, and Talk Radio is fighting him tooth and nail. The New York Times endorsed him last week. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
If Huckabee wins 60% of the remaining delegates, the convention will select the Republican nominee. While this seems like a long shot, look at all the excitement Barack is generating. Many independents will vote for Obama instead of McCain, which will only increase Mike's margins.
Imagine the two men standing side by side. Mike is witty and likable. He has the common touch and great one-liners. He is a gifted and engaging speaker who inspires. McCain comes across as angry and old. His words are stilted. His best lines are zingers and blunt declarations about how bad things are going to be. Who would you rather see in your living room for the next four years?
In a year when voters are hungry for change, McCain is the ultimate insider, a media darling with endorsements from current office holders. Huck is the ultimate outsider. His father was neither an admiral nor a governor, and he did not graduate from Annapolis or Harvard. Maybe that is why the Cato conservatives have difficulty grasping his appeal.
But Mike is a very skillful politician. He is reaching out to ordinary people through late night and early morning TV appearances, and his Internet donations are rolling in. He was recently endorsed by James Dobson and Jerry Falwell Jr. He has energized the Religious Right. They will be his foot soldiers and use their grassroots networks to get out the vote. And when fiscal conservatives look more closely at his record as governor, they will see that he was a friend of small business, which boosted the economy in his state.
This year has been too full of twists and turns to dismiss the drama that is unfolding. Huckabee is racing to the finish line. If McCain thinks that he can simply assume that he is the nominee and turn his attention to the fall election, he is in for a big surprise.

BigPicture of VA 12:31AM February 12, 2008

With all due respect Mr. Barone, what about the fact that Washington state was supposed to be a very hospitable electorate for a woman candidate such as Hillary Clinton? Pundits were reporting a possible Clinton victory, given that the state has a female governor, and two female senators. It is a remarkable upset that Obama won women voters in Washington. I simply don't see how Clinton's campaign is sustainable at this rate. These last few Obama victories deserve an exclamation point!

Martha Wellington of MA 10:54PM February 11, 2008

I like McCains comments today about the Washingtons votes.."It's very clear" (that I won)...but "I don't have all the details"(as to how it works)..
maybe someday he will say "It's very clear they have wmd's but we dont have all the details"
Why call an election before it is statistically impossible to win? I think someone is pushing there agenda..aka McCain..I'm appalled the media is not making more out of this. You can tell the Republican party has sold their sole to the devil by turning a blind eye to this American right just to get their patsy voted into office..LETS CLEAN HOUSE vote for MIKE HUCKABEE!!!!

a polley of TX 10:40PM February 11, 2008

Micheal Barone,
You may be THE EXPERT on politics.
However, we are THE PEOPLE and THE VOTERS.
Let us make up our own mind about who can win and who can't.
No media or party coronation this year for either party, thank you!

Matt P of MO 8:18PM February 11, 2008

Awesome! Huckabee bible forum trolls all over the place. Seriously, go away. He's done.

Joshmo America of WA 7:15PM February 11, 2008

McCain doesn't stand a ghost of a chance to beat any Democrat in this election cycle. The Republican party has cut its own throat this time, and may become dead and buried for good. Huckabee is someone who comes along once in a lifetime. He's inspirational, very conservative on social issues (what should be the great issues of our day, which if fail will be the death of our once great civilization), very pro business as far as profits and success are concerned but anti business having political power (We the People, not We the Corporations, running America), a cut above all rivals on morals, ethics, and character (which understandably should be the case, as an ordained minister of God's Word), the most experienced at government executive leadership, being 10 1/2 years the Governor of Arkansas, and the only one who has a proven track record of beating the Clinton political machine and Democrat machine(and the only who has a chance of doing it again). The Republican Party and radio and TV pundits like Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Bennett, Praeger, Ingraham, Hewitt, etc. panicked when he was up by 20% in Iowa. Why? I can see only one obvious reason. They are thinking of their own pocketbooks which are handsomely filled by their bosses who are part of a corporate America that is afraid that a Huckabee would break their power-hungry hold on running Washington DC and America.

Norman Remick of NJ 6:39PM February 11, 2008

In Washington State am I understanding correctly that the 223 delegate difference between Huckabee and McCain is not based on the caucus only but is also based on the primary votes that have been tallied so far? Because in Washington State the Primary is on Feb 19 and we have another week to vote......unless the 93% already in does include the Primary also.......is this correct???? Then at the County meeting in March the selected delegates would have an additional 40 votes to add to whomever, correct????? Help me out.

Jim of WA 6:29PM February 11, 2008

Obviously Huckabee is surging in the polls right now as he is the only real candidate not named John McCain on the Republican side. He has exactly as much chance of winning the nomination as Michael Barone. Should Huckabee somehow prevail, then only divine intervention will have brought him there.

of OH 6:22PM February 11, 2008