Huckabee Staying In

Mike Huckabee has just the slimmest chance of pulling off an upset of John McCain. McCain leads Huckabee in delegates 707 to 198; he needs only 1191 to seal the deal. But Huckabee is staying in the race. I saw him on TV yesterday speaking from Virginia where he addressed the issue of why he was still in it. He said, in essence, that because he was in Virginia campaigning and speaking, John McCain was also in Virginia campaigning and speaking. If he dropped out, he said, McCain would not be there because he wouldn't need to be there. He is giving the voters in these states a chance to have their voices be heard and their votes count.

I don't know what is really going on in Huckabee's mind; there is speculation he wants to be VP. Could be. But I am glad he is staying in for the reasons he gave. For the same reason I am glad Hillary and Barack are still slugging it out. This is the most substantial and consequential presidential campaign we have had in a couple of decades. In both parties there may be a contested election right down to the conventions and that means that the elections in every state matter. We have real choices and a real debate on issues and vision for the country. It is good for the country to be having this kind of election.