2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses and primary
The 2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses took place on February 5, 2008, to select 18 delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention.[1] An additional nine delegates were selected in a primary election on May 13, 2008, for a total of 27 delegates to the national convention.[1] Mike Huckabee won the caucuses, and John McCain later won the primary.
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Romney entered the caucus with the most pledged convention-goers, but delegates for McCain defected to Huckabee.[2] In the first round of caucusing, the results were Romney 464, Huckabee 375, McCain 176, Paul 118, Giuliani 0. Since no candidate had a majority, Giuliani dropped out and the delegates took a second vote. At this second vote, most Paul and McCain supporters, reportedly acting on commands from their coordinators, shifted to Huckabee, ensuring him the majority.[3] As a result of a deal with Huckabee's camp, Paul's delegates swung to Huckabee in exchange for 3 of the State's 18 national delegates.[4]
The West Virginia caucus was the first of the 21 "Super Tuesday" contests to be counted, with the results being reported in the mid-afternoon.[5] Huckabee's win over the favored Romney was considered a major loss of momentum for Romney's campaign, while it revitalized Mike Huckabee's hopes for the nomination.[6]
In the primary election, three delegates were awarded for each of West Virginia's three congressional districts. The winner in each district was awarded all three of that district's delegates.[7] McCain, the presumptive nominee, easily won all three districts.
Results
editFebruary 5 Caucus
edit| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Huckabee | 567 | 51.55% | 18(15) |
| Mitt Romney | 521 | 47.36% | 0 |
| John McCain | 12 | 1.09% | 0 |
| Ron Paul | 0 | 0% | 0(3) |
| Total | 1,100 | 100% | 18 |
- As a result of the deal between Huckabee and Paul's delegates, 3 of the State's 18 delegates went to Ron Paul, although the election was technically a "winner-take-all."[4]
May 13 primary
edit| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| John McCain | 89,683 | 76.0% | 9 |
| Mike Huckabee* | 12,175 | 10.3% | 0 |
| Ron Paul | 5,914 | 5.0% | 0 |
| Mitt Romney* | 5,188 | 4.4% | 0 |
| Rudolph Giuliani* | 2,831 | 2.4% | 0 |
| Alan Keyes | 1,427 | 1.2% | 0 |
| Others | 727 | 0.6% | 0 |
| Total | 117,945 | 100% | 9 |
*Candidate suspended campaign prior to this primary
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "West Virginia Republican Delegation 2008". The Green Papers. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
- ^ Huckabee wins all 18 W.Va. delegates
- ^ Jim Geraghty (February 25, 2008). "West Virginia Done, Huckabee Wins (UPDATED)". National Review. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b Rhee, Foon (February 5, 2008). "Paul claims delegates in West Virginia". boston.com.
- ^ POLITICO: Romney Loses West Virginia!
- ^ Tapper, Jake (February 5, 2008). "Hucka-Back from the Dead". ABC News.
- ^ a b "West Virginia Nominating Contest Results". The New York Times. February 5, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ^ "Caucus Results". CNN. February 5, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.