McCain wraps it up
Posted: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 9:03 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Republicans
With 100% of precincts reporting, McCain beat Huckabee in Texas, 51%-38% (Paul got 5%).
With 99% of precincts reporting, he beat Huckabee in Ohio, 60%-31% (Paul got 5%)
With 98% of precincts reporting, he beat Huckabee, 65%-22% (Paul got 7%).
With 865 of precincts reporting, he beat Huckabee in Vermont, 72%-14% (Paul got 7%).
McCain clinched the nomination, passing the magic 1,191 number, and Huckabee dropped out. The
New York Daily News: "As the nominee, McCain can now bolster his own operation by tapping into the computers and fund-raising lists of the Republican National Committee and the White House political shop. McCain has pledged to rewrite the GOP playbook by fielding efforts in the Democratic strongholds of New York, New Jersey and California, where polls show him in tight contests with either Clinton or Obama.” More: "McCain's political resurrection saw him go from GOP front-runner to single-digit also-ran last June as his campaign operation unraveled and his fund-raising flatlined."
The Politico’s Martin says McCain wrapping up the GOP nomination “capped one of the most remarkable political comebacks in American history.”
USA Today: “‘Now we begin the most important part of our campaign,’ McCain told supporters after sweeping Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island… McCain devoted his speech to general election themes, defending the Iraq war and blasting Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama for promising to rework trade treaties.”
The Washington Post adds, “Standing in front of a banner with the number ‘1,191’ on it and flanked by two large American flags, McCain vowed that his campaign ‘will be more than another tired debate of false promises, empty sound bites, or useless arguments from the past.’ He focused much of his speech on terrorism and the Iraq war. ‘America is at war in two countries and involved in a long and difficult fight with violent extremists who despise us, our values and modernity itself,’ he said. ‘It is of little use to Americans for their candidates to avoid the many complex challenges of these struggles by re-litigating decisions of the past.’”
The AP on Huckabee: "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.'"
What's next for McCain? "As the presumptive nominee, McCain aides said this weekend, McCain he can begin coordinating his political efforts with the White House and the Republican National Committee, which serves as the party' permanent apparatus in Washington. The aides said that they expect Mike Duncan, a longtime party operative, to remain in place as the national party chairman."
