Huckabee Wins Big in South, Challenges for Conservative Vote
The former Arkansas governor has a resilient campaign comeback.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 6, 2008 — -- His campaign thought dead and now resurrected, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee greeted his supporters ebulliently after winning contests in West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and his home state of Arkansas, with other possible victories to come.
"You know, over the past few days, people have been trying to say this is a two-man race," he said shortly after 10 p.m. "You know what? It is. And we're in it!"
Huckabee was tweaking the pundits and politicos who had written him off, suggesting that only Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were true contenders.
Huckabee suggested today on "Good Morning America" that he'd stay in the race until all delegates were counted, but acknowledged he had a lot of work to do to overtake McCain.
"We gotta win a lot of delegates," Huckabee said. "The only way you can be assured of losing [is] to leave the game."
Huckabee and Romney have been splitting the conservative vote, in a way, paving a path to the nomination for McCain, who enjoys stronger support among moderate and liberal Republicans.
With McCain and Huckabee having very good nights — and Romney showing disappointing third-place finishes in many states — Huckabee is now trying to flip the argument that he's the one who should drop out.
In fact, Huckabee was downright dismissive of Romney. "He lost, get over it, deal with it, life goes on," he said today.
Huckabee's message to supporters Tuesday night tweaked the institutional support and millions of dollars enjoyed by Romney, and he spoke with the biblical flourishes that the Baptist minister often adds to his speeches.
"Tonight, we are making sure America understands that sometimes, one small smooth stone is sometimes more effective than a whole lot of armor," Huckabee told supporters. "And we've also seen that the widow's mite has more effectiveness than all the gold in the world."
Asked about the biblical allusions by Gibson, Huckabee called it "a language that I speak pretty freely and clearly. … For me, it's not a second language, it's my mother tongue." He added that he used the scriptural touches to explain the euphoria he feels, as well as "why my followers have never quit."
Huckabee said going forward he looks forward to contests in Kansas, Virginia, and Texas.
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