The Republican Party caucus in Kansas has been called for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. He got 61 percent of the vote to Sen. John McCain's 24 percent and Cong. Ron Paul's 11 percent.
Gov. Huckabee got 36 (of 39 pledged) delegates in Kansas giving him 231 according to MSNBC with Sen. McCain at 721. Cong. Paul has 14. Gov. Huckabee vowed to stay in the race until Sen. McCain goes over the 1,191 votes needed to secure the nomination. Some analysts believe the former Arkansas governor is angling for the vice presidential slot on the Republican ticket.
No word yet on the Democrats voting in the Louisiana primary and caucuses held in Nebraska, the state of Washington, and the the Virgin Islands.
Even though Sen. McCain has all but clinched the nomination, political observers were noting that he has yet to make the final sale to what they call "heartland voters" such as the ones in Kansas. President Bush won Kansas in 2004 with 62 percent of the vote. Kansas is a reliably Republican state.
But caucus attendees are often said to be more motivated than primary voters and Gov. Huckabee's supporters still had a chance to demonstrate their backing. It is an indication though that Sen. McCain has to mend some fences in the party. He began that late last week with a well-received speech at the Conservative Political Action Caucus, many of whose members were supporting former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. While not overly enthusiastic, many of its members thought the likely nominee took the first steps towards gaining their support.
The results of the Kansas Caucus do not alter the status of the Republican race as Sen. McCain has all but been annointed by the press and party officials as the nominee.
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