No Miracles for Huckabee

In a shocking turn of events, Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race.

He's no longer running to be the Republican nominee for president.

IRVING, Texas -- Mike Huckabee bowed to reality Tuesday and out of the Republican presidential race. "We kept the faith," he told his end-of-the-road rally Tuesday after John McCain clinched the nomination. "I'd rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place."

The genial conservative went out as he had campaigned all along, with a quip: "It's time for us to hit the reset button."

Huckabee won the leadoff Iowa caucuses, making him a sudden but short-lived sensation, and then seven other states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kansas. Meantime, McCain piled up big victories on his way to winning the prize on Tuesday night.

The writing was on the wall for weeks, but the former Arkansas governor hung on until McCain secured the necessary delegates.

"We started this effort with very little recognition and virtually no resources," Huckabee told supporters. "We ended with slightly more recognition and very few resources."

The crowd laughed. "But what a journey," he said. "What a journey. A journey of a lifetime."

Huckabee rarely raised a negative word during the campaign about McCain, a man he clearly likes, and he called him Tuesday night to congratulate him.

Huckabee said he extended "my commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country."

Huckabee vowed: "We aren't going away completely. We want to be a part of helping to keep the issues alive that have kept us in this race."

I don't know what makes Huckabee tick. He obviously loves to perform.

Although he vows not to leave, I wish he would go away completely. Monday was the first time he sent out an e-mail that wasn't a solicitation for a campaign contribution.

Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:36:42
From: "Governor Mike Huckabee"
Subject: Voices Of Our Party Today And Tomorrow

I am campaigning across Texas today. While I am on the road, I ask that you read and then share with your friends, family and neighbors something very special: 1,800+ individual endorsements of my campaign from voters just like you.

They are from the people that I meet everyday on the campaign trail. They are the voices of our Republican Party today and tomorrow.

To leave your own endorsement you need to sign up as a Ranger today. You can do so here.

Please share these endorsements with friends and family. Help us finish strong.

Huckabeee finally stopped fund-raising, though he still is signing up "Rangers."

I don't know why people continued to send their money to fund Huckabee's Excellent Adventure after it was clear that nothing short of a miracle would make it possible for him to defeat John McCain.

I suspect that McCain, if elected, will reward Huckabee for his role in helping him secure the nomination.

Yes, Huckabee is finally out of the race; but unfortunately, he isn't going away.