Huckabee is in this for 2012, not 2008. If he stays in it until the convention, then he automatically becomes the 2012 frontrunner without having to lift a finger.

Because he's an even bigger nitwit than most other radical right-wingers.

Besides, in his particular alternate reality (Bushites have their own) he's still winning.

Other reasons are also possible. For example, a guy McCain's age could be expected to expire at any moment, and Huckleberry might just have his hopes up more than most people. A lot of the Religious Right constantly pray for God to 'do the right thing'.

What a horrifying thought! What would happen if McCain suddenly expired? Mitt Romney might get back in the game, but who else? Would mainstream Republicans really let either one of them happen? NOOOOOO!!!

It could be that he truly believes his own hype. Also he doesn't have a day job, so why not?

If McCain were to be swiftly crowned candidate, his face would disappear from the news from now until the republican convention in early September. In the meantime Hillary and Obama would fill the news every night, thus making conservative America comfortable with the notion of the first woman or first black president.

So, contrary to what conventional wisdom says, John McCain benefits from having Mike Huckabee around, so long as Mike holds back his strongest punches.

God can do anything.

The longer he stays in and as long as he's got the christian kooks tagging along with him, he leaves the Republicans little choice but put him in the VP spot. The christians will feel betrayed if they don't get a seat at the table.

...oh and he figures McCain will go belly up before his first term is over.

Huckabee seems genuine in his beliefs, what he is fighting for. Much of that may be repulsive to some(gay marriage, abortion amendments, God back in the law), but a big part of his message was that the gov't should work for the people, especially those less fortunate(there are good parts to religion). The fact that he was received well by Republican voters may sway future candidates in his party to adopt some of his policies that resonated with the voters, some that appear downright democratic. I'm not a huge fan of his, but he demonstrated there are some bridges to build to unite our country. Again, he had many platforms to his campaign that I abhor and anyone that raises his hand on TV for accepting the biblical creation of life should not be president.

I'm with the first poster -- he's in it for 2012.

Afterall, this year's election will be incredibly tough for a republican to win. Who'd even WANT to be that party's 08 nominee? Uphill battle all the way after the choices of the great "Decider".

So, the Huckster can cruise right into 2012, which arguable could be the election with a better reupblican chance for victory.

Just a theory. Afterall, that theory is based on the idea he has some sort of strategy and isn't a complete nutter.

Or maybe he's in it because Chuck Norris won't let him admit defeat...

Maybe Huck is not Finn-ished

get it..?

it admits Chuck Norris.

Before Bush came along, whenever a republican cnadidate said God was on his side, he was simply playing to the stupidity of the GOP base, now we get the Current Occupant who actaully believed what he was saying when those words came out of his mouth and now every Jesus freak in the country thinks they can win any long shot election just by claiming to be doing "the Lords Work"!

When McCain get crushed in 08, the religious right can stand up and say something like, " ya saw what happened when we got ignored, so you better listen to us next time".

I think JBinMO nails it. The Born-Agains and dominionists have a strange long-term vision for the world (when they aren't claiming the Rapture is right around the corner) and establish cradle-to-grave programs that can last for decades. Which in itself isn't so bad, but when you wrap it in organized religion the impact on the rest of society can be troublesome, to say the least. In any case, waiting four years for the next opportunity for control is nothing to these people.

"For some reason, Mike Huckabee is still running for president."

I had a great deal of sympathy for the policies Edwards stood for, and essentially none for the politics of Huckabee, but shouldn't Salon stop trying to steer candidates out of running just because you've decided they can't win?

Whether you do it to Kucinich or Edwards or even a loony like Huckabee, I intensely resent this kind of journalistic hubris, whether it comes from CNN or CBS, or even Slate or Salon.

Why no reports on how the democratic establishment ganged up on Kucinich and poured money into Cleveland to defeat him in the democratic primary, muscling him out of the race? That's a real story.

Has it occurred to you that, just possibly, republican primary voters are actually a little clearer in their outlook, at least when it comes to this, in their not mindlessly rejecting the candidates their leadership (and the media) tells them they have to, and not having become mesmerized by the shiny, spinning "electability" bauble that you have been waving in front of them?

Huckabee is defintely not tilting at windmills. He is giving a strong voice & lots of press time to a substantial swath of the GOP: the Christian conservatives. Huckabee's continued presence serves as a reminder that the GOP owes this faction of voters and they better not forget it...and by forget it,I mean in the months leading up to the general election. Republicans have a habit of softening the rhetoric that turns off the middle-of-the-road suburban voters.

McCain's not dumb. He won't do it. He's old and all the moderates who might vote for him will calculate the chances that he'll croak in office leaving a raving nutcase as prez. Hell, I think Huck as McCain's VP might even be enough to get my father to vote for Hillary!