Washington D.C. 1/22/2008 4:27:50 AM
News / Politics

Mike Huckabee Loses Fight In South Carolina to John McCain

Mike Huckabee, coming off a stunning loss New Hampshire, saw his fortunes erode further as Arizona Senator John McCain took the first place finish in the Palmetto State. Florida is the next Republican battleground and Huckabee is having to soften charges made by one of his celebrity supporters that McCain is too old for the job.

Speaking to supporters, Huckabee downplayed remarks by Chuck Norris, who has been accompanying him on the campaign trail. Norris said that while he respects McCain as a man and a leader, his age of 71 opens the possibility that the country would be in the hands of a vice president if he should win the national election. Huckabee said McCain has the inner strength to survive the pressure of the highest office in the land.

Currently, Huckabee is polling a distant fourth in Florida, with a scheduled primary on January 29. According to numbers posted at usaelectionpolls.com, he holds 13 percent with the former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in first with 21 percent. McCain and Mitt Romney are tied for second with 20 percent.

Huckabee told supporters holding signs and chanting "We Like Mike" during his speech in South Carolina following his loss that the election process has not ended and that there is still a lot of primaries remaining. He plans to continue the fight in Florida for the remaining 57 delegates, half of the usual number which were lost when the state moved its primary ahead of the February 5 date established by the Republican National Committee.

Latest Poll: John McCain Has Pulled Ahead of Giuliani in New York By Double Digits