2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses and primary

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.

2008 West Virginia Republican presidential caucuses and primary

February 5 (caucuses);
May 13, 2008 (primary)
 
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%

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

February 5 Caucus

100% of precincts reporting[8]
Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates
Mike Huckabee56751.55%18(15)
Mitt Romney52147.36%0
John McCain121.09%0
Ron Paul00%0(3)
Total1,100100%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

100% of precincts reporting[7]
Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates
John McCain89,68376.0%9
Mike Huckabee*12,17510.3%0
Ron Paul5,9145.0%0
Mitt Romney*5,1884.4%0
Rudolph Giuliani*2,8312.4%0
Alan Keyes1,4271.2%0
Others7270.6%0
Total117,945100%9

*Candidate suspended campaign prior to this primary

See also

References

  1. "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. 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. "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.
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