2008 Election TL (Gameplay Thread)

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Johnny Isakson, Frank Keating, John Hoeven, Norm Coleman, and Robert Aderholt continue campaigning for Huckabee well into Super Tuesday.

Isakson, in particular, visits Brunswick, Savannah, Marietta, and Atlanta, Georgia, campaigning for Huckabee.

"It's crucial that Georgians go out and vote. I cannot understate the importance of our state; it's why both major Republican candidates are so heavily campaigning here. Though I like Mitt Romney, I think Mike Huckabee is better suited to be president, and I ask Georgia Republicans to vote for him if they have not voted already." --Johnny Isakson

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a rally in Atlanta, Georgia.

"I wish to thank my supporters. Yesterday, we have won many states and have held on to states like Georgia and Oklahoma, which were targeted by my opponent's campaign. The campaign is not over, however, and your support is still needed. I wish also to congratulate Mitt Romney on his victories, and Tom Tancredo on his numerous strong performances also."

He then goes to Virginia and Maryland to campaign in those states for their upcoming primaries. He begins with a rally in Richmond, Virginia, with Frank Wolf, Rob Wittman and Eric Cantor.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds campaign stops in Chesapeake, Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, with Representatives Randy Forbes and Frank Wolf. He then crosses the Potomac river for several rallies in Maryland, with a new endorsement from Representative Roscoe Bartlett.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a rally in Richmond, Virginia, condemning the calls from other Republicans to suspend his campaign.

"I won't drop out until either I or Mitt Romney will reach the 1,191 delegates needed to secure the nomination. The race is not yet over, despite what my opponent's supporters would like to think. What's more, I'm shocked that Romney, being a businessman and all, has supporters asking me to withdraw. If anything, by staying in the race, I think I'm doing a good thing, not only for myself and my supporters, but also for the Republican party, and Mitt Romney himself.

Being a businessman with private sector experience and all, Mitt Romney ought to know that competition brings excellence, and the lack thereof brings mediocrity. You know the old proverb is as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. The fact is no boxer is ever prepared to go into the ring if he's never sparred. If we're really serious about taking it all the way to November, we better have a candidate who's truly battle-tested. So I think it's all nonsense, how I ought to step down to make things easier for my opponent. By staying in the race, I'm giving the Republican party a true choice between either of 2 candidates. Choice, and competition, those are things that Romney ought to encourage, not discourage."

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee announces a series of town-hall meetings in Virginia and Maryland. He will visit Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, Richmond, and Alexandria in Virginia, and Frederick and Baltimore in Maryland.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee makes more appearances in Virginia, visiting Front Royal, Winchester and Fairfax City. He appears in Winchester with 3 new endorsements, Representative Bob Goodlatte and former Governor/current Senate candidate Jim Gilmore, as well as former Senator Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania, born in Winchester.

"Mike Huckabee is a real conservative, and I'm pleased to endorse him. I actually considered running myself, but once Mike entered the race, I realized that there's already a conservative choice in the race, and frankly, he's more qualified for the presidency than I am. So, I'm asking you, my fellow Virginians, to vote for the real conservative this Tuesday...Mike Huckabee! Thank you and God bless!"

--Jim Gilmore

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee visits the state of Maryland, hoding campaign stops in Frederick and Annapolis with Roscoe Bartlett. He then returns to Virginia for rallies in Chesapeake, with Randy Forbes, and in Richmond, with Eric Cantor and Jim Gilmore.

"I'm looking forward to voting for Mike Huckabee. I think he's the best Republican in the race, and I think he has what it takes to win and to make a fine President. That's why I'm voting for him this Tuesday, and I hope that other Republicans join me in doing so, on both sides of the Potomac! Thank you, and God bless America!" --Eric Cantor

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds more campaign stops in Maryland, visiting Cumberland, Hagerstown, Rockville and Salisbury. He then holds 4 town hall style meetings in Virginia, with events in Falls Church, Lynchburg, Roanoke and Staunton.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds rallies in Richmond, Virginia, with Representative Eric Cantor and former Governor Jim Gilmore, and in Winchester with Bob Goodlatte and Rick Santorum.

"I've long been associated with the social conservative wing of the Republican party. I'm conviced that Mike Huckabee is the best candidate for values voters, like myself. If you want someone who's unwavering in his support for the unborn, vote Mike Huckabee. If you want someone who's succeeded in pushing for traditional marriage, vote Mike Huckabee. If you want someone who understands and recognizes the second amendment, please vote Mike Huckabee. Thank you and God bless!"

--Rick Santorum, in Winchester

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a press conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

"I wish to thank the people of Virginia. I wish also to congratulate Governor Romney for his strong showings in Maryland and the District of Columbia. We will now be focusing on Wisconsin, where we hope to achieve another win. Thank you and God bless!"

--Mike Huckabee

He then immediately starts campaigning with rallies in Milwaukee and Madison, with three new endorsements: representatives Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner, and former Governor Tommy Thompson.

"I'm looking forward to voting for Mike Huckabee in the primary, and I hope that other Wisconsin voters do likewise. I have faith in his conservatism and I think he's the best candidate in the race. Thank you and God bless."

--Paul Ryan

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a series of town hall meetings in Wisconsin, visiting Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay and La Crosse and addressing the concerns of voters throughout the state.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds rallies in Janesville and Middleton, Wisconsin, with Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner.

"I'm pleased to endorse Mike Huckabee, and look forward to voting for him in the primary. If you're a conservative Republican, like me, I hope you'll agree, and consider voting for him on primary day. Thank you all, and God bless America!"

--Jim Sensenbrenner

[RIP Robert H Bork]

The Mike Huckabee campaign releases a statement on the recent Tancredo/Romney attacks:

"We consider it disturbing that Romney is resorting to Mike Huckabee's health as a means for new attacks. Not only is it dishonest (Mike is in great health, and though he was formerly overweight, he has since lost 110 pounds), it's also disgraceful because it's not an issue and has nothing to do with either candidate's abilities, especially since Huckabee no longer has a weight 'issue'"

Mike Huckabee also holds a rally in Milwaukee with Tommy Thompson and a new endorsement, Tom Petri.

"Here's someone who boasts about his health and the health of his former constituents, and who talks of being the true economic conservative in the race. Yet, let's not forget he signed legislation that forced Bay Staters to buy health insurance, which most certainly is not economically conservative. I realize that now Romney will talk about how I'm dividing the party, but let's not forget that just now Mitt was the one who brought up the health care issue in the first place, and he started the attack."

--Mike Huckabee

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is endorsed by the following people:

Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (MS)
Steve Chabot (OH)
Michael McCaul (TX)

Cochran: "Mike Huckabee is a true conservative Republican, and I'm glad to endorse him. He has the experience, and in my opinion, he's best on the issues too. He's pro-life, pro-second amendment and pro-traditional marriage. I also think he's best on economics, health care for example. Therefore, I ask Mississippi voters to support him on primary day."

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee announces a series of town hall meetings in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. He will be addressing the economic concerns of voters in both cities.

Also, Paul Ryan, Jim Sensenbrenner and Tommy Thompson stump for Huckabee in both cities and elsewhere in the state.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds more rallies in Wisconsin, visiting Oshkosh, Milwaukee and Green Bay. He mentions the recent endorsements from Cochran, Wicker, Chabot, and McCaul.

"I'm glad to see more people across America joining our campaign and our message of true conservatism. If you want a conservative Republican in the White House, I hope you'll consider voting for Mike Huckabee on the 19th of February. Thank you, and God Bless!"

--Mike Huckabee

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee releases an advertisement to Wisconsin regarding Mitt Romney and so called "RomneyCare" implemented in Massachusetts.

He also holds a new series of town hall meetings in Appleton, Madison and Milwaukee.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a rally in Madison, Wisconsin.

"Here's someone who claims to be the conservative in the race, but he doesn't profess conservative values. He certainly didn't as governor of Massachusetts when it came to the unborn or the second amendment. I know Romney will say 'oh, but I'm better on economics, and that's what matters.' He certainly prefers to disregard social issues in favor of talking about economics. But is he conservative there either? Well, I don't think RomneyCare, which forced Massachusetts citizens to buy health insurance, is a conservative position on the economy. He's also portraying himself as anti-tax, but raised fees just in order to bypass the tax label."

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds events in Green Bay, Madison, Janesville, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin with Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner. He then holds a town hall style meeting in Appleton focusing on social issues.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a town hall meeting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, from which this is an excerpt:

Audience: Governor, your opponent is accusing you of throwing baseless attacks his way in response to your recent Madison rally. What do you have to say?
Huckabee: I wouldn't call my attacks baseless. They're based on words and actions from Mitt Romney's governorship and outside his governorship. I said that Romney didn't profess conservatism when it came to the issue of the unborn, for example. I stand by that comment.
Audience: Please elaborate.
Huckabee: Well, I've made a great deal out of this quote from Romney's gubernatorial campaign: 'On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion. However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect the right of a woman to choose under the law of the country and the laws of the commonwealth.'. Now, of course, he claims to be pro-life. I'd like to think he genuinely converted, but his changes on the issue go further than that. He ran as a pro-choicer for senate in 1994, but in 2001 he wrote to the Salt Lake City Tribune that he did 'not wish to be labeled pro-choice.' So, he was pro-choice in 1994, changed in 2001, again in 2002 and once again after that.
Audience: Ross Perot has just said that social issues are in fact important, but he doesn't like the fact that you've focused your entire campaign on them.
Huckabee: That's not true at all. It's true that I've emphasized social issues very much, but I have also discussed economics, both in my last Madison event and now. For example, I've criticized Governor Romney over health care, and if that's not an economic issue, I don't know what is. And, Romney's supporters are proving my point from the Madison rally; they're saying exactly what I predicted.
Audience: What's that?
Huckabee: I was predicting that the Romney campaign would be saying "oh, but we're better on economics, and that's more important." That's precisely what's happening, but I dispute the claim that Romney is better on economics as well. So, contrary to what Romney supporters are saying, I'm not disregarding economics. Romney is continuing to disregard social issues, however.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee releases a new ad in Wisconsin criticizing Romney's record on social issues. He also holds a new forum on economics in Milwaukee.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is endorsed by the following representatives from Ohio and Texas:

Mike Turner
Bob Latta
Pat Tiberi
Sam Johnson
Jeb Hensarling
John Culberson
Mike Conaway
Michael Burgess
John Carter
Pete Sessions

Turner: "I think Mike Huckabee offers true conservative solutions for America. I trust him to govern as a conservative, more of a conservative than either of the candidates still in the race. I hope Ohioans vote for him on March 4. Thank you, and God bless."

Also, Senators Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn tour the state of Texas campaigning for Huckabee.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a press conference in Madison. In it, he agrees that Romney has won the popular vote in Wisconsin but does not concede the race for the Republican nomination. Instead, he maintains his previous position and will stay in the race unless Mitt Romney reaches 1,191 delegates.

He then immediately holds a set of rallies in Ohio and Texas.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is interviewed by a local Ohio television station.

Reporter: Governor, you have your opponent and his supporters continuing their requests that you drop out. You have consistently declined to do so. Why?
Huckabee: I, frankly, think that the race isn't over yet, and that's why Romney hasn't clinched the nomination yet. I know that he's calling on me to drop out for the sake of party unity because he's pretty much won already and all. However, I think that my opponent has it wrong.
Reporter: Why?
Huckabee: Well, I've already stated that I don't think that Romney has won yet, which is part of the reason. As far as party unity is concerned, I think he's incorrect there too.
Reporter: Why is that?
Huckabee: Well, I realise that my opponent is trying to portray me in a negative light here just as he's been trying to do elsewhere. He's saying I'm trying to split the party, trying to help Warner win, etc. I don't think any of that is correct. It's true that I'm still in the race because the race isn't yet over, and because I think we still have a chance, even if a small one. However, I truly believe that I am also doing what's best for the party, and even, for Mitt Romney himself.
Reporter: How is having another Romney opponent in the race a good thing for him?
Huckabee: I know, it may seem counterintuitive. However, I'll reiterate what I said the last time people asked me to withdraw.
Reporter: What was that?
Huckabee: I said "Being a businessman with private sector experience and all, Mitt Romney ought to know that competition brings excellence, and the lack thereof brings mediocrity. ... If we're really serious about taking it all the way to November, we better have a candidate who's truly battle-tested. So I think it's all nonsense, how I ought to step down to make things easier for my opponent. By staying in the race, I'm giving the Republican party a true choice between either of 2 candidates. Choice, and competition, those are things that Romney ought to encourage, not discourage."
Reporter: I see. So you're staying because you think you're helping everyone?
Huckabee: Absolutely. Romney's belief is that I'm hurting everyone, himself, the party, even myself, by staying in the race. I sincerely doubt that. I know he and his supporters will still disagree with me, but I don't think they're right.
Reporter: You actually have a Romney supporter distancing himself from these requests for you to drop out, and that's Tom Tancredo, himself a former candidate in the race. He once was himself asking you to leave, but now he has changed his position. What's more, he's apologised for calling you a jerk during a previous campaign event. Do you accept that apology?
Huckabee: Oh, I certainly do.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is newly endorsed by 6 Texas representatives:

Louie Gohmert
Ted Poe
Ralph Hall
Randy Neugebauer
Lamar Smith
Kenny Marchant

Marchant: "I hope Texans vote for Mike Huckabee on March 4. I think he'd make a great President, and I'm looking forward to voting for him in the primary. Thank you and God bless."