Webloggin » Caucus Debacle in WV: McCain Supporters Throw Vote to Huckabee

Welcome to the stupidest election system in the free world. Mitt Romney was easily defeating his rivals in the West Virginia caucus but failed to top the 50% mark leading to a second round of voting. These second rounds are designed to allow the candidates to lobby for votes from candidates that are essentially eliminated in the first round. Both Ron Paul and John McCain came in the last two spots leaving Romney and Huckabee to fight for the delegates after McCain threw in the towel. McCain supporters changed their vote in the second round resulting in all 18 delegates going to Huckabee.

Mr. Romney had a comfortable lead over Mr. Huckabee, with Mr. McCain trailing badly, in the first ballot but because he did not have 50 percent of the vote, they went to a second ballot.

Marc Ambinder, a political blogger, reported that Mr. McCain called his supporters and asked them to vote for Mr. Huckabee to thwart Mr. Romney.

As a result, Mr. Huckabee emerged the victor, despite Mr. Romney pouring far more resources into the state. - Times Caucus Blog

1,200 delegates determine how 18 of West Virginia’s delegate votes are distributed. 1200 people. Think about it.

The process for the allocation of the state’s delegates is a bit convoluted. County conventions were held across the state to select the 1,207 delegates for the state convention. These delegates in turn will vote today. The winner gets all 18 of the state’s 30 delegates at stake today—nine delegates will awarded based on the results of the state’s primary in the spring; three are at-large.

Huckabee is pretending that this was some sort of victory for him but the reality is quite different. The Romney campaign made a strategic blunder by taking the state for granted so not all fault goes to the system. The Romney campaign worked hard for the state and the results showed. Huckabee wins by a quirk. Once again Americans lose.