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2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses and primary

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2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses and primary

← 2004 February 5 (caucuses);
May 13, 2008 (primary)
2012 →
← NE
OR →
 
Candidate Mike Huckabee Mitt Romney
Party Republican Republican
Home state Arkansas Massachusetts
Delegate count 18 (15) / 0 0/0
Popular vote 567/12,175 52.1%/5,188
Percentage 51.55%/10.3% 47.36%/4.4%

 
Candidate John McCain Ron Paul
Party Republican Republican
Home state Arizona Texas
Delegate count 0/9 0 (3) / 0
Popular vote 12%/89,683 0/5,914
Percentage 1.09%/76.0% 0%/5.0%

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.

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

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February 5 Caucus

[edit]
100% of precincts reporting[8]
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]
100% of precincts reporting[7]
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

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References

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  1. ^ a b "West Virginia Republican Delegation 2008". The Green Papers. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
  2. ^ Huckabee wins all 18 W.Va. delegates
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Rhee, Foon (February 5, 2008). "Paul claims delegates in West Virginia". boston.com.
  5. ^ POLITICO: Romney Loses West Virginia!
  6. ^ Tapper, Jake (February 5, 2008). "Hucka-Back from the Dead". ABC News.
  7. ^ a b "West Virginia Nominating Contest Results". The New York Times. February 5, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  8. ^ "Caucus Results". CNN. February 5, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.