March 02, 2008
No Third Party Run For Huck
HOUSTON - When asked about the move by some Republicans and political insiders to push him to drop out of the presidential race, Mike Huckabee today had a simple question: "What's the hurry?"
"I'm not understanding why some people are in such a rush to get this settled when I don't know that there's a bomb sitting under anybody's chair that's gonna go off if we don't have the nominee all settled," Huckabee said at a press conference Sunday.
He suggested delegates -- namely those once committed to Mitt Romney -- would have to "make some type of declaration and pledge" to be counted for John McCain and toward the 1,191 that the GOPer needs to secure the nom.
"I just want to make sure before I, you know, drain the bathtub, you know, that we've actually been in the water," he said. "And I think that's a little important for us to be very mindful of."
He also noted that McCain did not end his candidacy early in 2000 even after many assumed George W. Bush would get the Republican nom.
"He kept his delegates, and he kept his campaign going quite a while longer," Huck said. "So, you know, for us to suddenly act as if there's a different urgency in 2008 than there was in 2000 and 1976 and 1980, any time we've had a primary, I'm not sure what that is, and if somebody can present that to me, I'd be happy to read it but I haven't seen it yet."
Huckabee refused to say what he will do he loses Texas but noted that he had not given up hope. And he also suggested his campaign would continue on to states like Mississippi, which votes next week, and other primaries in the month ahead. But he also made clear he would not run as a third-party candidate, enjoying the Dallas Morning News editorial, which described him as a "top leader in tomorrow's Republican Party." He called a third-party candidacy "absolutely unattractive to me and unappealing."
Earlier in the day, Huckabee spoke to the Grace Community Church, telling the story of his traveling to Dallas as a teenager for a religious convention, and being mesmerized by thousands of candles lighting the Cotton Bowl and even likened the experience to Woodstock. He encouraged the church to "let your light shine" throughout he community, be it at the grocery store or the ballot box.
Huckabee was introduced at the church by Pastor Steve Riggle, who acknowledged campaign laws preventing the church from endorsing a candidate but said "they cannot shut up my voice." He said he was voting for Huckabee, and urged worshippers to not vote based solely on race or gender.
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
Posted at 03:36 PM
Comments
"Don't vote in the GOP primary based on race or gender?" That's so funny!!!! I'll bet a white male wins.
just me | 03.02.08 11:03 PM
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Huck would be an excellent president. It's so refreshing to hear a Republican talk about issues like poverty, education and healthcare. The lack of attention to such issues has long alienated many Christians (myself included) from "the Christian right." Huckabee's approach sounds much more like that of Jesus or St. Paul. This is what America needs. Though he likely won't be the GOP nominee this year, I hope his message inspires others to embrace his approach in races for seats in the Senate, House and governors' mansions.
Ohio Voter | 03.04.08 08:52 PM
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