Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee acknowledged that he might be “killing” his political career by remaining in the race despite the likely inevitability of John McCain winning the nomination.
While campaigning in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Huckabee told a crowd gathered at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire: "I may be killing my political career, but I know this -- if we don't start thinking in terms of solving some of America's problems, we're killing all of your careers."
During a press conference after the rally, Huckabee was asked to clarify his remarks.
"I'm just saying there are a lot of people who say I'm staying and creating problems for the party, and there are obviously people in the party who are unhappy that I've stayed,” he said in remarks reported by ABC News.
“Now keep in mind, they're all supporting John McCain, but this sense that it's just his turn, let's just all step aside -- I find that insulting as a Republican, and as a candidate.”
Huckabee has maintained that his continued presence in the race is important to the GOP, and he has compared his campaign to Ronald Reagan’s campaign in 1976, when he went against the Republican base by challenging sitting President Gerald Ford.
Huckabee added: “The rules are that if you don't have the person that has the delegates to claim the nomination, it goes to a brokered convention…
"I think the worse thing is not getting the right candidate nominated for the contest. So if we haven't had a candidate who has rallied enough delegates to be named, then maybe it should go to the convention."
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