Why is Huckabee Staying In?

Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has played out his role in the race for the Republican nomination. So why doesn't he leave already?

Well, this is a very good question. At first I thought he was just trying to make his case to be McCain's running-mate. And after he lost the Virginia primary, I thought he would butt out and allow McCain to officially wrap up the nomination.

But he didn't. He stayed in, and is still determined to be the nominee. The McCain camp pointed out that it is almost statistically impossible for Huckabee to get the nomination, saying he would need "123% of the remaining delegates."

Also, insiders of the McCain campaign said that it is highly unlikely that McCain would pick Huckabee as a running-mate at this point because he would not appeal to fiscal conservatives at the time of a recession.

I also once thought that Huckabee was hanging in there for the sake of the party, so Romney supporters and other conservatives could have a temporary conservative choice before eventually backing McCain.

But he has proved me wrong once again, and is (selfishly) vowing to fight on, at least until the Texas primary on March 4th. He obviously thinks he still has a chance to win.

The Republican establishment and conservative leaders have been calling for his withdrawal since Super Tuesday so Republicans could officially move beyond the primaries and focus on November.

But now, he is just being a nuisance. He has no chance to get the nomination, or to become McCain's running-mate, and is hurting the party. He's also spoiling the chance of a future bid for president by angering the Republican establishment and the party as a whole.

So frankly, I have no clue as to why Huck is staying in. If you do, please enlighten me.

It's always a virtue to know when to quit.