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What McCain's Campaign Means By "Mathematically Impossible"

February 13, 2008 8:18 AM

Says McCain campaign manager Rick Davis: "The results from tonight’s primary elections in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., make it mathematically impossible for Governor Huckabee to secure the Republican nomination for president.

"He now needs 950 delegates to secure the required 1,191.

"But in the remaining contests there are only 774 delegates available. "He would need to win 123 percent of remaining delegates."

Ah. Yes. That does indeed sound mathematically impossible.

But wait -- didn't Huckabee "major in miracles"?

Perhaps he could transubstantiate Chip Saltsman's chewin' tobacco into 176 delegates?

- jpt

February 13, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (31)

User Comments

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Obviously you don't believe in God, because if you did, you would know that God can do anything & works in mysterious ways His Wonders to perform! If he can create a world, people & everything in it, is it really that hard to believe that Huckabee could win the nomination in the end...numbers or no numbers? God will not be mocked. God will & can do anything, but He will only do what He chooses & according to His Will. Be very careful what you say about God....He is listening & watching.

Posted by: al | Feb 13, 2008 9:20:36 AM

McCain's not complaining, I'm certainly not going to.

I think that two real conventions would be majorly fun and exciting.

Remember, if there is no winner on the first ballot, every delegate becomes free to vote for *whoever*. The next President might be someone we haven't even heard of up until this point.

.

Posted by: Josh Geller | Feb 13, 2008 9:19:37 AM

If your numbers are accurate, which I'd hope they are (since it's your job), you didn't point out McCain has not secured the nomination yet either. It would seem you are not quite reporting all the math. McCain also must still win 370 delegates if you assume his already acquired 821 reported by fox news. This means that McCain must win close to 48 percent of remaining delegates to secure the nomination. Just thought it would have been disingenuous of you to leave out some of the math.

Posted by: TM | Feb 13, 2008 9:17:18 AM

Guess what happens if McCain does not get the 1191 require delegates on the first round. Just suppose that you have a number of deligates that refuse to follow the mandates given them. How many would have to change? Who might be the winner if this occured? You don't have to vote for Mike Huckabee and you don't have to beleive in God but just remember you will never find any one in a fox hole that does not beleive in GOD. We just might need more Mike Huckabee's in the very near future.

Posted by: Laurie C. Davis | Feb 13, 2008 9:14:58 AM

For those whom it cannot be done. Get out of the way so the one that can will.

Good thing the Wright Brothers continued.

Posted by: Wesley Franklin | Feb 13, 2008 9:09:24 AM

If Huckabee gets enough delegates he could also make it mathematically impossible for McCain to receive the 1191 needed. He could then potentially pick up the nearly 300 Romney delegates at the convention and still win. Also, there's always the possibility of McCain having a health issue or some unexpected campaign ender. Contrary to what the media is pushing for, it Ain't over yet folks!

Posted by: Mccainequalsdraft | Feb 13, 2008 9:07:54 AM

If the auther worked for MSNBC they would be fired and Keith O. would say how "Dreadfully Sorry" the network is. Sad isn't it.

Posted by: Reality | Feb 13, 2008 9:04:41 AM

Perhaps Gov. Huckabee's miracle that he hopes for is that Romney will release his ~240 delegates for Huckabee putting him over the top? I'm not a Huckabee supporter in the least, but I can see an argument... especially since Huckabee already benefited from that type of mathematical deal making in West Virginia on Super Tuesday. Maybe the miracle would be Romney giving him some delegates after how petty Huckabee was towards him?

Posted by: FLW | Feb 13, 2008 9:04:29 AM

Mr. Tapper: Transubstantiation has nothing to do with Southern Baptists. It is Catholic doctrine only, and it is central to our faith. You could have gone for the easy religious laugh with something non-denominational and inoffensive, like making an analogy between turning wine into water and turning chewing tobacco into delegates. By trying to bandy about a term whose specific meaning you apparently do not understand, you not only missed the mark, but you caused deep offense to millions of Catholics.

Posted by: barbara | Feb 13, 2008 8:52:48 AM

Jake,

Better watch it! The LIBs will call you biased!

Posted by: nabi | Feb 13, 2008 8:35:08 AM

Huckabee does believe that he has god on his side (I guess god has time now that football season's over), so he's definitiely going to win. The only question is how god will allow Huckabee to work his way out of this delegate dilemma.

Posted by: DKNY | Feb 13, 2008 8:33:40 AM

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