March 5, 2008
Posted: 07:45 AM ET
 Huckabee reflected on his presidential bid after dropping out Tuesday night.
Huckabee reflected on his presidential bid after dropping out Tuesday night.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (CNN) – A smiling and upbeat Mike Huckabee huddled with his traveling press corps one last time on the flight home to Little Rock following his exit from the 2008 presidential race.

“Clearly, things didn't go our way tonight and we had hoped they would, but when the inevitable is staring you in the face, you accept it,” Huckabee told reporters.

He had long said he would stay in the race until someone got the 1,191 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. When it became clear tonight that McCain would, the former Arkansas governor decided it was time to bow out.

“Ohio and the other states weren't close,” said Huckabee, “it was pretty obvious, I'd been through a lot of elections before. I know when one is on its way to being close and when one isn't. This one wasn't.”

Before addressing supporters at his primary night party outside Dallas, Huckabee called McCain to congratulate him. “I complimented him on running a very civil and honorable campaign and remarked to him I thought he was very noteworthy that we had gone through this entire process very civil toward one another and that there had never been hostility between our campaigns,” said Huckabee.

Huckabee is expected to endorse McCain, having always said he would back the Republican nominee.

As for his own future? “Honestly, I'm not looking past tomorrow. I'm a young guy, relatively speaking, so who knows what the future holds?” asked Huckabee.

The press had plenty of suggestions. VP? “I do wouldn’t expect it.” TV host? “If the phone rings I'll be willing to answer it.” Bassist for the Rolling Stones? “ Call Mick and Keith and tell them I'm available.”

Asked how he hopes his campaign to be remembered, Huckabee responded that he wants people realize to it’s not about the money. “They kept saying I couldn’t last because I didn't have the money. I think I've proven that point to be wrong, dreadfully wrong. And I'm glad of that, because I hope in the future that people will run on their ideas and not just their checkbooks.”

– CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt

Filed under: Mike Huckabee


K Fergus   March 5th, 2008 12:31 pm ET

It's about time he realized he wasn't going to win. He should have bowed out gracefully a long time ago.

Kathryn Irby   March 5th, 2008 12:28 pm ET

I'm glad he decided to save his money!

Louisiana

Andrea   March 5th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I had the opportunity to meet Governor Huckabee when he came to Amarillo. Even though I am not a Republican, I am very disappointed to see Mr. Huckabee concede.

Stephannie Minneapolis, MN   March 5th, 2008 12:04 pm ET

If Huckabee were an Independent, I might have looked twice at him.

Bush is the Terrorist   March 5th, 2008 12:00 pm ET

Huckabee was fun to watch and very personable. But then he'd spill some ketchup on his sleeve and think that Jesus was going to divinely clean it off for him. His penchant for going off on weird religious tangents was just scary and bizarre… though it wasn't as scary or bizarre as MItt Romney's hair.

Thanks Huck   March 5th, 2008 11:56 am ET

Thank you Mr. Huckabee for showing that it was possible to compete against a party opponent, without actually destroying your own party in the process. If you are so inclined… please lecture Hillary on how to do the same

CB   March 5th, 2008 11:50 am ET

GOOD LUCK Governor Huckabee! Hopefully McCain will have the good sense to give you a chance to serve the country as VP or Secretary of State.

Marci   March 5th, 2008 11:49 am ET

They should appoint Huckabee to chair the RNC. I think he would do a great job.

Barbara Mills   March 5th, 2008 11:38 am ET

I'm not too surprised by yesterday's results, but I am surprised at the comments made by all regarding the 3 am phone call ad that many think was influential for some in voting for Clinton. None of comments about it are like mine.

My immediate reaction:
(1) What conceit to believe she could respond to a crisis without consulting anyone. Once again no one (media or candidate himself) questions her "experience" No one has ever insisted she define her 35 years of experience that makes her ready on day one. (So much for unfair media)
(2) What kind of crisis would need an immediate response at 3 am without consulting anyone (might she at least roll over in bed and asked Bill what he thought?–Or don't they sleep together?
(3) Further, immediate off the cuff responses are often terrible; any experienced person would know this

Al Hilton Palmdale, California   March 5th, 2008 11:32 am ET

Mike Huckabee should have been the Republican nominee, however he has set himself up for a possible VP, or a run for President in 2012. He is better known now, and has proven that he can keep a promise (to drop out when McCain reached the magic number). He ran a civil race, and people will remember that . If McCain dosen't produce to Republicans expectations, Huckabee would be a shoo-in in 2012.

Greg, Athens   March 5th, 2008 11:29 am ET

It's too bad, Mike was the only candidate with character.

wallflower   March 5th, 2008 11:16 am ET

Huckabee ran a good race and brought integrity back to politics. Hope we will be seeing more of him in public office in the future.

Wilma, in Georgia   March 5th, 2008 11:12 am ET

People should have much respect for "Huckabee"

Ed K.   March 5th, 2008 11:10 am ET

I hate to see him go. CNN, this guy would make you a great talking head.

Kathy Landrum   March 5th, 2008 11:06 am ET

Mike Huckabee will be the one who is fun to watch in the days to come…

Jonathan   March 5th, 2008 11:02 am ET

I wonder how that whole Math Vs. Miracles thing is looking now.

Wilberto Jimenez, Monmot, MD   March 5th, 2008 10:41 am ET

Congratulations, Huckabee. You mucked about in the race for so long, that now Mitt Romney, and not you, will have the honor of being McCain's running mate.

Todd   March 5th, 2008 10:38 am ET

Man, I'd be depressed if I was Huckabee. Mitt Romney has been out of the race for a month now and he still has a larger delegate count than Huckleberry. What a baffoon!

Bayou Joe   March 5th, 2008 10:37 am ET

My prayer is that McCain choose anyone but Huckabee as his running mate. Mitt Romney would bring more to the table than this southern preacher that doesn't know when the game is over. Romney for VP. Now that is a dream ticket.

Alex Mackin   March 5th, 2008 10:36 am ET

WHATEVER

Keep the democratic race up and going, keep the attention up and going. It's that simple. The notion that a longer democratic race will harm the party is simply theoretical, theres no evidence that this has happened. It's an important race, what do you expect? Mccain will become old news in comparison. Even if we go to the convention undecided theres a good chance well come out the other side of denver full of energy, which we will then carry into november. The press is vital, and McCain wont be getting as much of it now.

Nashville Fan   March 5th, 2008 10:34 am ET

I think it would be great if SNL decided to invite Huckabee to do a series of political skits with them in the short future… he was hilarious the last time he was on there!

Even though he is dropping out of the race in support of McCain, I think we will see a lot more of this man. I'm curious to see what happens next :)

Nelson, Colorado Springs Co   March 5th, 2008 10:29 am ET

Good run Mr Huckabee, you are right all states should take part in selecting a nominee to run for president of the political party

D.H   March 5th, 2008 6:32 am ET

Without Huckebee & Obama there is simply no one to vote for. The others do not deserve to be in office as it will be the same ole thing-YUK

Renee   March 5th, 2008 6:31 am ET

So she had a tantrum about not getting enough press, so you guys gave her this election, but now that you've given her, her day in the light….is it okay to ask about the tax returns, track record for being prepared at 3am and most importantly this famous health care plan that no one has seen.

P.S. CNN put her in the race and we go back to old politics and your days of great ratings are OVER! No one will be watching!!!!

Darshan   March 5th, 2008 6:13 am ET

Say what you want about the man, his policies or his ideology but he ran a humble and respectable campaign without the slightest hint of hubris or entitlement (easy when your the underdog i suppose).

Sadly in doing so, the only thing he achieved was to drown out the message and the candidacy of Ron Paul; who in the 'change election' would have made the ultimate change candidate (republican at least).

Will the republican hierarchy reward him for this by putting him in the McCain ticket (and in doing so acknowledge some political realities)?

-Obama/Edwards 08 [with Senator Clinton Sec of State]

Conservative   March 5th, 2008 6:11 am ET

Looks like with Huck out, it's Ron Paul and McCain. It will be fun to see who the delegates vote for at the Convention.

Elizabeth Keeshan   March 5th, 2008 5:57 am ET

When I went to bed around 8:30 the CNN team with Wolf Blitzer was so upbeat…the possibility of Obam a winning seemed a done deal. I was disappointew that Jeffrey Toobin, barely able to withhold a grin, speculated on what Obama had to do to wrap it up.
Lo and behold! This morning, early, around 4 ish there was the same team, downcast, trying to figure out what happened. What happened was the people are paying attention and voting!
Please, bring back Soledad Obrien. Your most reliable reporter. She doesn't take sides, she reports what is actually happening. You should get rid of Gloria Borcher, so know-it-all and often wrong!!
We can always depend on Wolf and Anderson. that's one woman's opinion. 82 years old, but, still interested, here on Cape Codl

Craig Morgan   March 5th, 2008 5:35 am ET

Big machine beats the protagonist again. Well, we see that attack adds really do do there damage. We've seen how big attack add machines and their candidates do in office… Hillary, drink in your confetti.

Willy   March 5th, 2008 5:33 am ET

Mike,

Thank you for being the voice of the common people of the United States. Thanks for putting the Fair Tax ou tthere HR 25 bill is still alive. So big media did not cover you or the Fair Tax. Come back in 4 years and run!

Tom, Las Vegas, Nevada   March 5th, 2008 4:52 am ET

Huckabee should be remembered as the one person that gave us conservatives McCain, who is anything but a conservative. Huckabee was the author of the Holy War in Iowa. He went after the anti-Mormon vote and he got it. He also got the anti-Mormon vote in the south. Romney's well planned strategy was working to perfection until the anti-Mormons did him in and Huckabee is the sole responsible person that fueled those voters. Otherwise Romney would have won Iowa, N.H. and swept the south. Huckabee's votes were always votes of protest against another opponent, not votes, per se for him! Religious bigotry is alive in America and Huckabee sucked this bigotry in. Part of the proof is that on Super Tuesday I, outside of the southern states Huckabee's numbers were in single digits and the low two digits and Paul beat him in five states!

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