Hucakabee Has a Miracle Day; Obama Goes Four for Four

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who, earlier in the day, said he majored in miracles, experienced one today. He won the Kansas caucus and took the Louisiana primary on the first voting day since Romney's departure. During his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference he also defined his perceived new role. McCain won the Washington Caucus by a 2 percent margin. Senator Barack Obama dominated over contender Hillary Clinton in all four Democratic elections in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, and the Virgin Islands.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - Mike Huckabee won the primary in Louisiana and captured the Kansas caucus, moving slightly up on Senator John McCain, who won the Washington Caucus with only a 2 percent margin. He still holds a huge lead in delegate totals.

At a rally at the University of Maryland in College Park, just a few hours before hearing that he had taken Kansas Caucus, the former Arkansas Governor stated, "I did not major in math, but I majored in miracles, and I still believe in them."

And miracles did come. He received 60 percent of the vote in the Kansas Caucus today, winning 36 delegates.. It will take 1191 delegate votes to get the Republican nod to run for President. In the Louisiana Primary, he edged out John McCain by a narrow 1 percent margin, 43 to 42 percent.

Earlier in the day, Huckabee had spoken at the Annual Meeting of CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, in Washington, D.C. Afterward he was asked by reporters about a McCain-Huckabee ticket. He responded by saying that a McCain-Huckabee ticket has already been achieved. "My wife's maiden name is McCain," he said with a mischevious grin.

He also indicated he was staying in the race at least until McCain captures the number of delegates needed to win. "I know that I won't drop out until at least that happens and then we'll see."

During his time with reporters, Huckabee also hinted as to the importance he plays in the Republican campaign. "No boxer is prepared to go into the ring if he's never sparred."

The allusion seemed to point to a perception the former governor had about his role, sparring with John McCain, as they continue to battle toward the Republican National Convention.

Jonathan Martin, at Politico.com, believes that Huckabee "was talking generally about the importance of keeping a robust debate going in the Republican contest and how it was critical to be battle-tested heading into the general.

"But Huckabee and his campaign are under no illusion about who is playing the role of prize fighter in training and who is the journeyman, warming up the champ," Martin said.

A memo was circulated to the media during CPAC from Huckabee staffers Ed Rollins and Chip Saltsman saying, "He will draw distinctions, he will debate and debate hard, but he will always be civil and decent.

"In fact, even many McCain supporters have told us that they appreciate the constructive role that Gov. Huckabee can play in the months to come, because a vigorous discussion will keep all the media 'oxygen' from migrating over to the heated Democratic contest."

In a race that was too close to call until Sunday morning, John McCain won the Washington caucus with 26 percent of the vote to Huckabee's 24. Mitt Romney, who had dropped out last week, still received 17 percent of the Washington election.

A total of 158 delegates are at stake for the Democratic candidates in the states of Louisiana, Nebraska, and Washington.Hillary Clinton began the day with a slight lead over Barack Obama, 1,055 to 998, according to the Associated Press. 2,025 delegate votes are required to win the nomination at the party convention in Denver.

At the end of the day, Obama went four for four in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, and the Virgin Islands and pulled ahead in delegate count. He won 52 percent of the popular vote in Louisiana as well as winning in the three caucuses also held. He received a 67 percent margin in Nebraska and Washington, as well as dominating the Virgin Islands with 90 percent of the vote.

On Friday, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, one day before the state caucuses.

Caucus sites in both Washington and Nebraska overflowed with voters today. Louisiana showed large turnouts in the Democratic primary at twice that of their Republican counterpart.

Announcing his victories at a dinner in Richmond, Va, Obama told a cheering audience of Democrats, "Today, voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say 'yes we can'".

Hillary Clinton spoke at the same dinner and preceded the Illinois Senator in making her remarks. She did not mention the outcome of Saturday's elections at all.

Instead she chose to take aim at the current administration and the current Republican front-runner. "We have tried it President Bush's way," she said, "and now the Republicans have chosen more of the same."

After tonight 29 of 50 states have decided how their delegates will vote, with two states - Florida and Michigan - being disqualified by the Democratic National Committee. The Chesapeake primaries of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. are next on the radar and very much lean toward Barack Obama.

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