HUCKABEE CONTESTS WA RESULTS

[Wretched Excess]

HUCKABEE CONTESTS WA RESULTS

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Huckabee campaign is contesting the results of the Washington caucus, claiming the state chairman declared McCain the winner before all the votes were counted.

Campaign Chairman Ed Rollins told reporters Sunday that in addition to delegates, the “dubious” announcement hurt Huckabee’s momentum after surprise wins in Kansas and Louisiana Saturday night.

“This is a very serious issue,” Rollins told reporters at a hastily arranged briefing in his hotel room. “Obviously, this is a game about, at this point in time,  about every delegate, every vote should count. And it’s also about perception.”

Rollins said he was not accusing the McCain campaign of anything, but said Washington Republican State Party Chairman Luke Esser suspended voting with only 87 percent of the votes counted, and then issued a press release declaring McCain the victor. When Huckabee campaign officials reached Esser Sunday, he said the rest of the votes would be counted today and refused requests for the campaign to monitor the tallying, Rollins said, adding Esser said the campaign should trust the party.

“At this point of time, I want to make sure that every vote is counted, and I’m not accusing anyone of mischief at this time; I’m accusing someone of bad judgment,” he said.

Attempts to contact Esser Sunday were unsuccessful. Rollins said Esser claimed he did not know where in the state the uncounted votes were from.

The Huckabee campaign said they would pursue legal avenues to have an accurate count of the Washington caucuses. And Rollins said the effort was also a warning shot to other states that might try to declare McCain the victor before an accurate count.

“I think it’s very important that we go on record that we’re gonna go after every single delegate we are entitled to,” he said. “And I think that every chairman in the country should be on notice that this is an improper procedure, and if you’re gonna ask people to vote, you count the votes.”

Rollins added the dubious counting hurt the perception of their wins Saturday.

"There's a big difference in impact between our campaign winning three primaries and caucuses yesterday as we go into one, the way reporting would have been done, as opposed to two wins and one loss, and one loss which we are now certainly questioning," he said.

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well, that does sound a little fishy.  this looks like one of those times where the state GOP machine may have been a bit overzealous.  but I will say it again, a caucus is a silly way of picking a presidential candidate.

it sorta makes me feel queasy to see a republican quoted as saying, "I want to make sure that every vote is counted".

[DixieBelle]

Huckabee isn't going to get the nod anyway. It's mathmatically impossible for him to get it.

I'm kind of tired of him. I guess he feels indebted to the Evangelicals who have worshipped him.

[Wretched Excess]

Huckabee isn't going to get the nod anyway. It's mathmatically impossible for him to get it.

I'm kind of tired of him. I guess he feels indebted to the Evangelicals who have worshipped him.

conventional wisdom seems to think that he is trying to create a case for the veep nomination by sticking in the race long enough to win more delegates than romney.  of course, that will also piss off john mccain, who already apparently hates him.

or perhaps he is burnishing his credentials for 2012.

[Chris_]

I think that whether someone is winning or losing, proper procedure should be followed.

.....but said Washington Republican State Party Chairman Luke Esser suspended voting with only 87 percent of the votes counted

If true, that's bullshit.

[Wretched Excess]

I think that whether someone is winning or losing, proper procedure should be followed.

.....but said Washington Republican State Party Chairman Luke Esser suspended voting with only 87 percent of the votes counted

If true, that's bullshit.

yeah, I agree.  but you never know.  there could be some silly, esoteric rule under the WA caucus system that says you can pull stupid crap like that.  the various caucus systems across the country are loaded with arcane rules that seem to exist for no reason.

for heaven's sake, just have a damn primary, count the freaking votes, and be done with it.

[Chris_]