McCain Wins South Carolina Primary

Republican Senator John McCain wins the South Carolina primary, defeating Governor Mike Huckabee by about 3 percentage points.

Is Huckabee finished? Will Fred Thompson officially throw in the towel?

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Comments

[johnny]

I'm a Huck supporter, but this was a tough defeat. I think Thompson focusing on dragging down Huck worked. Huck's best case scenario is Fred drops out and some of his support goes to Huck. If Rudy goes under, his support goes to McCain. If Rudy emerges, he bleeds off votes from McCain and Romney jumps out front.

I am still hoping that Huck was beaten (barely) in SC by McCain's military community supporters. That support cannot be counted on in many other states. This race is still really volatile. Despite all the media hype about McCain, Romney is the real front runner with the most robust war chest.

If Rudy competes in Florida, he hurts McCain which helps Huckabee.

[Goat]

Hey our guy Mitt was the first to break 50% in Nevada and is the only one that hasn't lost to Ron Paul. Time for the Fredheads to unite with the Romneyites and push this over the top and win.

[Amy Proctor]

Really? Mitt is the only one to have not lost to Ron Paul? I didn't know that.

I can't count Huckabee out yet. I really like him as a person and governor, but less as a president, so I'd feel badly if he were out. I don't think McCain will win the nomination. Maybe a state here or there, and I know SC is significant, but I don't see him taking it all.

[Americaneocon]

I wrote this earlier, but it touches on your questions:

"McCain's victory speech made an effort to reach out to all South Carolinians who cast a vote, not just for their candidate, but in support of the American way.

McCain now heads to the next round of voting with a significant win over Mike Huckabee, who had the backing of at least half of the Palmetto State's evangelical voters. The former Arkansas governor's failure to win tonight raises serious questions as to his campaign's national viability.

McCain has recaptured the campaign's momentum. Mitt Romney's win in the Nevada caucuses today means that the race is likely to unfold as a two-man contest between McCain and the former Massachusetts governor.

Fred Thompson's third place showing in South Carolina is a huge disappointment for the former Tennessee Senator, who staked his chances on a big win in the country's first Southern primary. Rudy Giuliani's been out of the limelight for weeks. With the dramatic fortunes of the race passing him by, the former New York mayor's election strategy appears increasingly dangerous."

I've supported McCain the whole time. It's been a little rough, since most conservative bloggers back Thompson, but I'm thrilled by the Arizona Senator's victory.

[Gawfer]

I believe we'll hear a withdrawal from Fred soon. I was interested in the Huckster early on, but his propensity to speak without giving thought to the impact of his words as well as his ideals on taxes has moved me to another yard.

I certainly do not care for McCain/Feingold or McCain/Kennedy, and I in no way support McCain's position on the border and Z-Visas. He’s strong on the war, but not any stronger than Mitt.

[Gayle]

As a Fred Thompson supporter I'm extremely disappointed in his SC results, Amy, but I guess you know that. I'm pretty sure that as a Veteran, my husband will support McCain, but at this point I guess I'll wait and see. Hunter and Thompson seemed to be (at least to me) the only true conservatives out there. I'm at the point right now that I'll vote for whoever wins the Republican Nomination. I can't seem to work up steam about any of them, but I will vote Republican, whatever happens.

[Morph]

Amy: I could support a number of candidates on the Republican side - I worked for a company that Bain Capital controlled and met Mitt: he is an outstanding executive and would create the best possible cabinet. McCain is out of step with the conservative movement on a number of issues - but the war on terror trumps the other issues in my mind; Giuliani has leadership and management skills tested in a crisis; nonetheless, I was increasingly leaning to Thompson as the thoughtful conservative.

He did bet it all on SC; he will need donors to rise up to fund anything further. I'm wishing for a Romney/Thompson ticket - a gimmick I know - but a boost for both.

[mudkitty]

It's St. McCain, from here on out.

[Amy Proctor]

Americaneocon, I've always liked these candidates: Huckabee, Romney. Huckabee and McCain have a record on illegal immigration I'm extremely uncomfortable with because if a commander in chief does not expressly uphold the rule of law in the United States, or at least support publicly doing so, it's a bad omen.

McCain opposed the President's watered down bill on illegal immigration and included himself, along with Lindsey Graham, in the Gang of 14 who opposed an up or down vote along with Democrats for judicial nominees during the Roberts confirmation. He also stood along side Democrats on Gitmo and giving terrorists constitutional rights.

Thompson entered the race too late and had an air of arrogance about him. He was curt and rude, but his policies were excellent. He also used advertising against presidential candidates on his website quoting them (Republicans) mostly from the 1990's! He had one on Romeny from 2005, but the rest seemed pointless.

Romney seems like the logical choice, but I could vote for almost anyone in the Republican party who is nominated, including McCain. I guess there is no perfect candidate.

Even Ronald Reagan had Contragate and amnesty to millions of illegals.

[J Rob]

I disagree about Thompson hurting Hickabee. Most of my fellow Thompson supporters tend to view him as Jimmy Carter with an (R) after his name (a view I share). Most of us (again this is based on the ones I have had conversations with) tend to view Romney as our second choice. If anybody is hurt by Fred staying in too ling it would be Romney.
That said, I'll still vote for the GOP nominee, even to the point of holding my nose and touching the screen for McCain.

[Johnny]

J Rob:
I don't believe Gov. Carter was ever selected Chairman of the National Governor's Committee by 49 of his peers or named one of America's 5 best governors by Time Magazine as Gov. Huckabee was.

None of the remaining GOP field aside from Gov Huckabee is true social conservative. Please don't think social conservatives are willing to hold their nose and vote for another nominee. I know I'm not. Our nation is in a free fall decline in moral values. You can fight terrorism, lower taxes, strengthen the economy and protect the borders till the cows come home but it won't matter a hill of beans if our country continues to rot from the inside out.

We need a real moral leader in Whitehouse with NO AOPLOGIES made for his religious faith in the God of our Forefathers. Check with what has happened in Europe - they lost their faith and will be a Muslim society as soon as 2050.

[Amy Proctor]

Even though I support Romney, I think Huckabee was an excellent Governor of a messed up state which the Clintons and corrupt LT GOV left behind.

I think Johnny is right about social conservatism and it ought to be more important to us than fiscal conservatism.

Since there is a choice and we can nit pick, I'm looking for someone well rounded. Huckabee's stance on Illegal Immigration scares me and I thought his harsh criticism of the Bush administration was unnecessary and fruitless except to cheer up liberals.