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| BLOG ARCHIVE: MARCH 1-15, 2008. CALIFORNIA
CANDIDATE FILING CLOSES. NRCC IS EMBEZZLEMENT VICTIM; CONGRESSMAN CRAMER RETIRES; DSCC RECRUITS KANSAS CANDIDATE; GRAVEL BACKS GREEN FOR PREZ. NRCC: Chris Ward, the longtime treasurer of the NRCC, allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the group. The money was diverted in the form of bogus charges, which resulted in funds being transferred into various personal and business accounts owned by Ward. According to various news reports, Ward was confronted by a group of GOP Congressmen with concerns about irregularities. Ward finally admitted he had lied to Cole and that no outside audits had been performed for several years. NRCC Chairman Tom Cole fired Ward in January and immediately turned the matter over the FBI. Cole says the amount missing could reach as much as $1 million. FEC records show that Ward served as treasurer for 25 other congressional campaigns and Republican fundraising committees. The Politico reports Ward "also diverted funds from the leadership PACs and re-election campaigns for which he worked, usually in smaller amounts, although ... the total taken from those PACs and campaigns may actually end up being greater than the losses suffered by the NRCC itself." ALABAMA:
In a surprise move, KANSAS:
The DSCC recruited its top choice for the long-shot race against
US Senator Pat Roberts (R). The Kansas City Star reports
former Congressman Jim Slattery (D) will officially announce his
candidacy next week. Slattery, once a rising star in Kansas politics,
was defeated in the 1994 gubernatorial race. Since then he has
worked as a lobbyist in DC. "We welcome the opportunity to
draw the clear distinction between a Senator who has been a full-time
advocate for Kansans and a $600-an-hour Washington lobbyist who
has been a full-time advocate for special interests," said
Roberts' spokeswoman. Race rating: GOP Favored. GRAVEL:
Former US Senator Mike Gravel (D) says he is still running for
President. But that hasn't stopped him from endorsing a candidate
for the White House. Gravel's choice: filmmaker and environmental
activist Jesse Johnson (Green-WV). Johnson posted the endorsement
on his campaign website."We must have a voice in the political
realm speaking earnestly and intelligently about all of our environmental
needs. Johnson and the Green Party have that environmental credibility
that we Democrats have lost ... If we want to end the war in Iraq,
provide health care to all citizens, educate our young people,
we're going to have to start not only working together with these
alternate parties: but literally working to support them. That's
why I'm supporting Jesse Johnson's campaign for President,"
explained Gravel. SPITZER
RESIGNS IN SEX SCANDAL; OREGON FILING CLOSES; DR. DEATH FOR CONGRESS. OREGON: Filing closed in Oregon this week for statewide and congressional offices. US Senator Gordon Smith (R) faces a minor primary opponent, plus six Democratic challengers. Smith's two main Dem opponents are State House Speaker Jeff Merkley and progressive attorney Steve Novick. None of the state's congressional incumbents faces serious opposition -- and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D) doesn't even face any major party opposition. The race worth watching is the open CD-5 contest to replace retiring Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (D). Five Democats and three Republicans filed for the seat. The candidates worth noting are State Senator Kurt Schrader (D), former gubernatorial chief of staff Steve Marks (D), former State GOP Chair Kevin Mannix, and transportation executive/'06 GOP nominee Mike Erickson. The state will also see open seat contests for Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General. The Republicans failed to field any candidate in the Attorney General race. Click here to see all of the Oregon candidates. MICHIGAN:
Retired physician and medically-assisted suicide activist
Jack Kevorkian, 79, plans to run against Congressman Joe Knollenberg
(R) as an Independent. Kevorkian, who was released from prison
last year, was serving a second-degree murder sentence for for
assisting in a suicide. Kevorkian -- widely known in the media
as "Dr. Death" -- claims he helped roughly 130 terminally
ill people commit suicide. He says he is running to focus on prison
reform, legalizing physician-assisted suicide, and improving government
integrity. Knollenberg is already locked in a tough fight against
former State Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters (D). Kevorkian could
possibly play a spoiler role in a tight race. OBAMA
WINS MISSISSIPPI; FERRARO'S RACISM; SPITZER HASN'T RESIGNED (YET);
DEMS HOLD INDIANA CD-7 SEAT. P2008 - DEMS: I'm not going to spend time bashing former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) for her fairly racist comments bashing Barack Obama -- including her bitter, unrepentant comments Tuesday where she mockingly said she was being attacked because she was white. Why? Because every campaign -- Obama, Clinton and McCain -- will have the support of a certain number of losers and jerks associated with them. I'm not holding a candidate responsible for comments by idiots like Ferraro (or Samantha Power or John Hagee). And I'll accept Clinton's comments distancing herself from Ferraro's offensive comments. In other news, Florida Democrats appear to have decided upon holding a re-vote via mail-in primary. It will be Florida's first statewide mail-in election. Ballots are expected to be mailed out in April, with a return deadline in early June.
INDIANA:
Voters on Tuesday elected the grandson of the late Congresswoman
Julia Carson (D) to fill her vacant seat in the special election.
Indianapolis City Councilman Andre Carson (D) defeated State Representative
Jon Elrod (R) by a vote of 53% to 44%. Carson will become only
the second Muslim ever elected to Congress. Both men -- along
with other Democrats and Republicans -- are also seeking their
respective nominations for the full-term in the May 6 primary.
Carson will take office this week to complete his grandmother's
current term. MISSISSIPPI
VOTES; SPITZER IN PROSTITUTE SCANDAL; EVERYONE UNOPPOSED IN ARKANSAS;
FRANKEN PRIMARY OPPONENT QUITS MN SEN RACE. NEW
YORK: Governor ARKANSAS: The close of primary candidate filing in Arkansas on Monday saw every federal incumbent move into the "safe" category. US Senator Mark Pryor (D) and Congressmen Marion Berry (D), Vic Snyder (D), John Boozman (R) and Mike Ross (D) will all head into November without any major party opposition. They may, however, still face third party or independent opposition in the general election. The only one of the five incumbents currently facing opposition is Pryor, who is being challenged by attorney Rebekah Kennedy (Green).
WHITE
HOUSE: OBAMA WINS WYOMING; VEEPSTAKES; FLA SOLUTIONS; MISSISSIPPI
PREVIEW. MISSISSIPPI:
The Presidential contest next moves to Mississippi on Tuesday
-- a VP: In other news, Bill Clinton suggested on Saturday that a ticket featuring both his wife and Obama would be "an almost unstoppable force," according to CNN. In recent days, Hillary Clinton and her surrogates have repeatedly suggested the national ticket would likely be strongest if it featured both her and Obama in whatever order the delegates decide. Obama did not entirely shoot down the idea. In an interview with KTVQ in Montana, Obama said that any VP talk -- by either candidate -- was "premature" because "you won't see me as a Vice Presidential candidate, you know, I'm running for President." Obama and his surrogates generally avoid talking about possible runningmates. On the other side, John McCain's camp say they have not yet started their runningmate selection process. However, names being frequently mentioned as potential McCain runningmates include Governors Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Charlie Crist (R-FL), Mark Sanford (R-SC) and Sarah Palin (R-AK), and former Congressman Rob Portman (R-OH). FLORIDA:
Sunshine State Democrats seem to be moving towards a compromise
that will reportedly satisfy the DNC, ensuring the state's convention
delegates get seated. The solution appears to be a mail-in primary
in June, which could be conducted at a cost of around $2-3 million.
State Senator Nan Rich (D), a Florida co-chair of the Clinton
campaign, proposed a more draconian alternative to force the DNC
to seat Florida's delegates as is from the January 29 primary.
Rich suggested Friday she may introduce a bill that would block
a party from having it's national ticket appear on Florida's November
presidential ballot if the state's delegates to the national convention
are not fully credentialed and allowed to vote. Setting aside
debate on the constitutionality of Rich's proposal, the alternative
mail-in compromise idea seemed to rapidly gain traction a few
hours later. ILLINOIS
- CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL ELECTION: In a major embarrassment
to the Republican Party, wealthy research scientist WYOMING
CAUCUSES + 3 CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL ELECTIONS ON SATURDAY. MICHIGAN
DEMS TO HOLD NEW CAUCUSES; FLA DEMS SAY "NO RE-VOTE";
PAUL QUITS; IL CD-14 SPECIAL POLL. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. BUSH
ENDORSES McCAIN; OBAMA TO SCORE 50+ ADDITIONAL SUPERDELEGATES;
FL & MI GOVERNORS DISCUSS PREZ RE-VOTE PLANS. CLINTON
WINS OHIO, TEXAS, RHODE ISLAND, OBAMA WINS VERMONT; McCAIN CLINCHES
NOMINATION, HUCKABEE ENDORSES McCAIN. OHIO
& TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY RESULTS; IL CD-14 SPECIAL ELECTION
UPDATE; IN & OUT IN CALIFORNIA CD-4. CLINTON
HOLDS OHIO EDGE, TEXAS TOO CLOSE TO CALL; CORNYN NOT YET READY
FOR GOP KUMBAYAH MOMENT. KUCINICH,
PAUL, HALL FACE TOUGH PRIMARIES; NEBRASKA FILING CLOSES; NM &
NJ SENATE POLLS; ROMNEY SON WON'T RUN IN UTAH. RICHARDSON
THINKS DEM RACE MAY END TUESDAY; CLINTON LEADS IN OHIO, TX IS
CLOSE; HUCKABEE SAYS "STOP PUSHING"; PAUL LOOKS STRONG
IN HOUSE PRIMARY; NC FILING CLOSES.
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Congressman
Bud Cramer (D), 60, announced Thursday he will not seek re-election
to a tenth term this year. "This was a difficult decision,
but after 28 years of public service it is time for me to step
aside, spend more time with my family and begin another chapter
in my life ... While I am closing my career as a member of Congress
I will continue to be active in the life, growth and development
of the community that I, my parents and my grandchildren will
always call home," explained Cramer, in his prepared statement.
Cramer was a leading member of the Blue Dog Caucus of Democratic
conservatives in the US House. The district has never before elected
a Republican to Congress -- and Cramer won re-elections by landslide
margins -- but the district voted 60% for Bush in 2004. Thus,
this open seat may be the GOP's top congressional pickup opportunity
this year. Possible candidates for the seat include State Representative
John Robinson (D), State Public Service Commissioner Susan Parker
(D), State Senator Parker Griffith (D), Madison County Commissioner
Mo Brooks (R), and State Senator Arthur Orr (R). Race Rating:
Toss-Up. 
NEW
YORK: As expected, Governor Eliot Spitzer (D) resigned on
Wednesday in the wake of a sex scandal. Spitzer was released as
"Client 9" in a federal investigation related to a multi-state
prostitution ring. While others may have weathered this political
storm, Spitzer could not because it revealed him as a hypocrite.
As Attorney General, Spitzer prosecuted two high-profile prostitution
rings. As Governor, Spitzer signed legislation into law which
increased the penalties for clients of prostitutes. Under that
law, the penalty for hiring a prostitute in New York -- a misdemeanor
-- was increased from a maximum of three months in jail to a maximum
of one year in jail. With Spitzer out, Lieutenant Governor David
Paterson (D) is the new Governor. Paterson, who is legally blind,
is only the nation's third black Governor since the post-Civil
War Reconstruction era. Paterson, who is more socially liberal
than was Spitzer, also has a reputation as being able to work
well with legislators on both sides of the partisan aisle. With
Paterson's promotion, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R)
also takes on the dual role of Acting Lieutenant Governor. 
Barack
Obama won the Mississippi primary on Tuesday. The results: Obama
- 58%, Hillary Clinton - 40%. In terms of delegates, Obama won
16 and Clinton won 9. As each week passes and fewer states remains
unvoted, Clinton's mathematical odds of overtaking Obama continue
to worsen. In the US Senate race, State Representative Erik Fleming
(D) easily won the Democratic nomination to face incumbent Thad
Cochran (R) in November. In CD-1, both party races appeared headed
into April run-offs. Former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough led
Southhaven Mayor Greg Davis for the GOP nomination in Tuesday's
vote. On the Dem side, Prentiss County Clerk Travis Childers narrowly
led State Representative Steve Holland in primary voting. In CD-3,
State Senator Charlie Ross and Rankin County GOP Chair Gregg Harper
appeared to be heading towards a GOP run-off. Pickens Alderman
Joel Gill won the Dem primary for the seat. 
MINNESOTA:
Humorist Al Franken is now a lock to win the Democratic nomination
to face US Senator Norm Coleman (R) in November. Multimillionaire
attorney Mike Ciresi (D) unexpectedly quit the race on Monday,
acknowledging that Franken has won the support of key party activists.
"Continuing the [Democratic] endorsement race would only
lead to an unnecessary [convention] floor fight. It is time to
step aside," said Ciresi. Franken still faces primary opposition,
but should have no problem winning both the party's pre-primary
endorsement and the September 9 primary. Polls show Franken and
Coleman locked in a virtual tie. Race Rating: Toss-Up.
primary
state -- where three new independent polls show Obama leading
by 14 points (Rasmussen), 24 points (ARG) and 6 points (Insider
Advantage). Obama is expected to perform very strongly with Mississippi's
large base of black Democrats. 
Bill
Foster (D) won Saturday's CD-14 special election to fill the seat
left vacant by the resignation of former US House Speaker Denny
Hastert (R). With only a brief one-term exception (the 1974 Watergate
elections), the seat had been in GOP hands without interruption
since 1934. While both parties' national congressional committees
spent money in the contest, the NRCC poured in $1.2 million into
in support of Oberweis -- an amount which equaled nearly 20% of
the NRCC's total cash-on-hand for all races nationwide this year.
Foster defeated multimillionaire dairy owner and frequent candidate
Jim Oberweis (R) by a 52% to 48% vote. Both men largely self-financed,
with Oberweis spending $2.3 million of his own money, and Foster
spending $1.8 million from his own pocket. Foster even carried
three of the most Republican counties in the district: Kane, Kendall
and DuPage. Kendall County, for example, was Hastert's home county
and had voted 61% for Bush in 2004. "Back in the laboratory,
this is what we'd say was a pretty successful experiment,"
said Foster, in his victory comments. As expected, Dems are calling
the victory a bellweather of an anti-GOP national trend for November,
and Republicans say the defeat was merely a localized backlash
to Oberweis's abrasive personality. In further bad news for Republicans,
Oberweis is also the party's nominee for the seat in November.
Look for the NRCC to pressure Oberweis to voluntarily withdraw
from the race so a potentially stronger replacement nominee can
be substituted on the general election ballot. On Saturday night,
however, Oberweis sounded like someone planning to remain in the
race. "I am disappointed we've come out second ... [but]
we're going to have another run in about seven months," he
said. Race Rating (for November): Leans DEM.
became
vacant when Bobby Jindal (R) was elected Governor last year. State
Senator Steve Scalise (R) placed first, as expected, but fell
short the 50% mark needed to avoid a run-off. The GOP primary
results: Scalise - 48%, State Representative Tim Burns - 28%,
Slidell Mayor Ben Morris - 21%, and attorney David Simpson - 3%.
Scalise is favored over Burns in the run-off. In the Democratic
primary, psychologist Gilda Reed defeated USAF veteran and frequent
candidate Vinny Mendoza by a 70% to 30% vote. Race Rating: Safe
GOP.
man
will lose in a landslide in November to US Senator Thad Cochran
(R). CD-1: Southhaven Mayor Greg Davis is heavily favored
to win the GOP primary over former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough
and physician Randy Russell. Davis' advantage is mainly geographic,
as his home county significantly outvotes the other parts of the
district. State Representative Steve Holland and Prentiss County
Chancery Clerk Travis Childers are the leading Dem candidates.
The seat is vacant, due to the appointment of Congressman Roger
Wicker (R) to the US Senate in January. FYI: The CD-1 separate
special election -- featuring most of the same candidates -- will
be held April 22. Race rating: Safe GOP. CD-3: Eight Republicans
are competing in the primary to succeed retiring Congressman Chip
Pickering (R). Wealthy businessman David Landrum (R) has spent
over $500,000 of his own money on ads, dominating the airwaves
and making himself the early frontrunner. He stumbled, however,
when it was revealed Landrum failed to vote in the 2003 gubernatorial
race or any contest since then. Landrum's campaign compounded
the problem by releasing documents that purported to be the 2003
voter roll showing signatures of Landrum and his wife -- but it
was quickly proven the signatures weren't genuine. Thus, Landrum
lost his momentum but is still likely to make the run-off. Others
with a shot at the GOP run-off spot include State Senator Charlie
Ross, former congressional aide John Rounsaville and Rankin County
GOP Chair Gregg Harper. 
seating
of a Michigan delegation to the National Convention. Any resolution
must be agreeable to all four interested parties: the MDP, the
DNC, and both the Clinton and Obama campaigns because we all want
a united Democratic Party in Michigan to ensure a victory for
the Democratic nominee this fall," said State Democratic
Chair Mark Brewer. While the specific details -- like the date
-- have yet to be worked out, The New Republic reports
Michigan Dems will be "announcing a new caucus in the next
few days." Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) has endorsed the
caucus re-vote. In Florida, by contrast, leaders of the both the
Clinton and Obama camps agree a re-vote is not going to happen.
"A do-over is 
unworkable,
too expensive, unfair and not logistically possible in a state
our size this late in the game," said Congresswoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
DWS is national co-chair of the Clinton campaign. Congressman
Robert Wexler (D-FL), state co-chair of the Obama campaign, agreed:
"There does not appear to be an appetite for a new election,
and there doesn't appear to be any way to pay for it either."
Both sides are demanding the DNC seat a full compliment of Florida
delegates, but the proposals of how to do this widely diverge.
The Clinton campaign say the Florida delegation should reflect
the results of the record turnout primary vote on January 29.
Others have proposed an even split of delegates between Clinton
and Obama, or -- bizarrely -- seating a Florida delegation that
is allowed to attend the convention but not vote on the Presidential
race. DNC Chair Howard Dean says he supports having a Florida
re-vote -- either caucuses or primary -- but the Florida Democrats
must find a way on their own to entirely finance it. US Senator
Bill Nelson (D-FL), a Clinton supporter, disagrees. Nelson said
the DNC must either seat the January primary delegates or foot
the bill for a new primary if they refuse to do so. "We're
coming on the biggest train wreck you've ever seen" if they
refuse to seat the Florida delegates, wrote Nelson in a letter
to Dean on Thursday.
P2008
- GOP. Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) is making his withdrawal
from the Presidential race official. According to ABC News, Paul
will announce his exit from White House race in a video on his
campaign site. "The message of freedom is popular. And I
will continue to trumpet it in Congress and across America as
I fight on behalf of the conservative, common sense values which
made our country so great. In conclusion, I would like to offer
my thanks and gratitude to all of the wonderful people who supported
me in this campaign. I look forward to representing all of the
good people of the 14th District of Texas in Congress in the years
to come," explained Paul. He won 70% in his congressional
primary this week.
Rose
Garden. "Whatever he wants me to do, I want him to win,"
said Bush, because "he's not gonna change when it comes to
taking on the enemy" and the Iraq War. The McCain campaign
would like Bush to help with fundraising, but is not expected
to use Bush in any high-profile roll during the general election
campaign. Look for the Dems to use pictures from the Bush-McCain
meeting during the campaign fall in various advertisements linking
McCain to the unpopular incumbent and the war.
TEXAS
RECAP. State Representative and National Guard officer Rick
Noreiga (D) won the Dem primary for US Senate with 51%, avoiding
a run-off. He will face US Senator John Cornyn (R) in the general
election. In CD-22, former Congresswoman Shelley Sekula Gibbs
placed first in the crowded ten-candidate GOP primary with 30%,
followed by former Congressional aide and Navy veteran Pete Olson
at 21%. The two will face-off in a run-off primary next month.
The winner will challenge Congressman Nick Lampson (D). 
primary
or caucuses -- likely to be scheduled in both states for June
or July.
Leans
GOP. CD-7: State Senator Steve Austria easily won GOP primary
over three opponents, winning by 21-points over his closest rival.
Austria is a GOP centrist and protégé of retiring
Congressman Dave Hobson (R). Race rating: Safe GOP. CD-10:
Weather issues and extended poll closing times delayed the results
in Congressman Dennis Kucinich's renomination fight. WIth a third
of the vote counted, Kucinich was holding a 21-point lead over
his nearest rival. Race rating: Safe DEM. CD-14: Former
State Appeals Court Judge Bill O'Neill (D) won his primary with
63%, setting up a competitive fall race against Congressman Steve
LaTourette (R). Race rating: Leans GOP. CD-15: State Senator
Steve Stivers (R) and Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy
(D) easily won their respective primaries, ensuring one of the
hottest open seat contests in the nation. Kilroy nearly toppled
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R) two year ago. Pryce chose to retire,
rather than face a rematch with Kilroy. Race rating: Toss-Up.
CD-16: Congressman Ralph Regula (R) is retiring. State
Senator John Boccieri easily won the Dem primary with 64%. With
nearly 90% of the GOP primary votes counted, Ashland County Commissioner
Matt Miller was leading State Senator Kirk Schuring by a vote
of 46% to 43%. Miller previously won over 40% in his challenge
of Regula in GOP primary two years ago. CD-18: Former State
Agriculture Director Fred Dailey won 39% of the vote to win his
four-way GOP primary. Republicans are hoping to recapture this
usually GOP district, currently held by freshman Congressman Zack
Space (D). Race rating: Leans DEM. 
TEXAS.
Congressman Ron Paul (R) won a landslide renomination victory
in CD-14, capturing 70% of the vote. His primary foe had argued
Paul's libertarian views were out of sync with social conservative
values. Here are the other races of note. Race rating: Safe GOP.
CD-4: Congressman Ralph Hall (R), age 84, scored a landslide
primary win over four challengers. Hall won 71% of the vote, with
former Frisco Mayor Kathy Seei in second place with just 11% of
the vote. Race rating: Safe GOP. CD-22: Ten Republicans
faced-off for the right to challenge vulnerable Congressman Nick
Lampson (D) in this GOP-leaning district. Early returns showed
former Congresswoman Shelley Sekula Gibbs and former Congressional
aide Pete Olson seemingly heading ito an April 8 run-off. Race
Rating: Leans DEM. CD-23: Bexar County Commissioner Lyle
Larson (R) won his primary with 63%, and will face Congressman
Ciro Rodriguez (D) in November in this swing district. Race rating:
Leans DEM. US SENATE: With incomplete results, State Representative
Rick Noriega (D) was running very near the 50% mark needed to
win the four-candidate primary without a run-off. Frequent candidate
Gene Kelly was second with 27%. US Senator John Cornyn (R) easily
won his primary by a 4-to-1 margin. Race Rating: GOP Favored.
OHIO
& TEXAS: Just a reminder that Tuesday is also the primary
day in these two states for the congressional races. Former 2008
Presidential candidates Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Ron Paul (R-TX)
each face competitive renomination primaries -- in large part
brought on because of their respective White House runs. Polling
shows both incumbents well positioned to win their races. In 
Co-Chair
Steve Larrick also filed to run in the general election. In CD-2,
Congressman Lee Terry (R) will face a rematch from businessman
Jim Esch (D). Terry defeated Esch by a competitive 55%-45% vote
two years ago. Esch said he was inspired to make a second run
because of the success of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign.
The state's two other GOP Congressmen each drew Dem challengers,
but both incumbents appear to be safe. Click here for the 
seems
to be enjoying his Presidential run -- even jokingly acknowledging
last week on SNL that he is "going to focus on miracles"
because he understands it is a mathematical impossibility for
him to win the Republican nomination over John McCain. However,
Huckabee made it clear over the weekend he is getting annoyed
by those who want him to end his campaign this week after Tuesday's
vote. In comments to reporters on Sunday, Huckabee implied he
plans to remain in the race for the rest of the primary season.
"You can beat me but you can’t make me quit ... What
is the big hurry here? I guess I fail to see it. The Democrats
are still having a primary, and all of these [Republicans] who
for the last two or three weeks have been saying, ‘let's hurry
and get ours over with.’ Well, what's the hurry? We have six or
seven months before the convention, and another two months after
that until we have the election. I don't know that there's a bomb
sitting under anybody's chair that's going to go off if we don't
have the nominee all settled before we get through Texas and Ohio
and go on to places like Mississippi and Pennsylvania and Nebraska
and North Carolina," said Huckabee. In related news, the
Dallas Morning News endorsed Huckabee (and Obama) in Tuesday's
primary. Huckabee campaign manager Ed Rollins partially contradicted
his candidate a few minutes later, saying that "we may end
up suspending for a while or not campaigning quite as actively,
but we’re not quitting" after the Texas primary.
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