Huckabee Says He is in Race for Long Haul

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told a conservative gathering in Washington Saturday he is in the Republican presidential hunt to stay.

Huckabee drew a smaller crowd at the 35th annual Conservative Political Action Conference than either front-runner Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has dropped out of the race, The Washington Times reported. About one-third of the seats in the ballroom at the Omni Sheraton were empty for Huckabee Saturday, while McCain and Romney spoke to standing-room only crowds Friday.

I didn’t major in math, I majored in miracles, and I still believe in those, too, said Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister.

Everywhere there’s a vote to be cast, I’m still standing.

Huckabee told reporters after his speech that he is helping McCain and his party by remaining a candidate because competition breeds excellence. A number of political analysts have said McCain also will benefit because if he became the acknowledged candidate media attention would shift to the Democratic contest.