Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee emphasized his determination to stay in the race Thursday at the Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison.
After being introduced by Tim Michels, who ran against U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI, in 2004, Huckabee acknowledged the liberal atmosphere of Madison and jokingly called the city the conservative bastion of Wisconsin.""
Despite the strong lead U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., currently has in the delegate count, Huckabee said he refuses to withdraw his nomination and admit defeat at this point.
""We're not ready to just simply say 'game over' because, folks, it's not only just about the delegates. It's also about the message that we send for America,"" Huckabee said.
Huckabee said he hoped Wisconsin conservatives would vote based on the message they believe in and not simply ""rubber stamp the media's annointing of John McCain.""
He also said the states he has won would be important for their Republican support in the November election, and until someone has 1,191 delegates, the race is still up for grabs.
Huckabee said he had a plan to fix the nation's tax system with his ""FairTax"" proposal, his support of a ""human life"" anti-abortion amendment to the Constitution, his intention to achieve energy independence in 10 years and his plan to secure the United States' borders.
""I think it would be a great disservice to the country and to my own party to just give up and quit because it looks like the numbers are trending toward John McCain at this particular stage,"" Huckabee said.
Although Huckabee might not have great odds of winning the Republican nomination, the rally proved he still has strong supporters.
Luther Landon, a resident and Republican activist Rockford, Ill., said he supported Huckabee's policies and said there was a need for a Republican candidate who is not a typical politician.
""I think it's time we get somebody who's not a party regular who has been waiting his turn to run for president,"" Landon said.
Madison resident Jim Schmitz also said he admired Huckabee for his conservative views.
""He is the only true conservative and fundamental Christian candidate left, and that goes a long way with me,"" Schmitz said.
