Who is the GOP’s Number Two?

With McCain having clinched the nomination the question has arisen as to who the GOP’s number 2 will be? We here at The Virginian Federalist would like to take a different look at this question. Who is the GOP’s number 2?

Who came in second in the Republican Presidential Primary? This question is important for several reasons. The candidate who came in second is clearly a potential vice-presidential nominee. This person is also automatically catapulted into a leading position for the next presidential nomination.

So who is it? According to our independent delegate count found on our sidebar, it’s a tie between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. These numbers are not final, and the count continues to shift. Despite the fact that Huckabee remained in the race for a month past Romney, he could not pass him.

In reality, Huckabee fell about 18 Delegates behind Romney. Since Romney released his delegates, several have committed to other candidates. Romney’s highest delegate count was 286 placing him more than 20 Delegates in front of Huckabee’s highest point.

There, of course, is some controversy with our conclusion. CNN has Huckabee with a 12 delegate lead over Romney. Real Clear Politics gives Romney a two delegate edge. Fox News reports Huckabee with a 27 delegate lead.

The discrepancy seems to be Michigan. According to our tabulation Romney obtained 24 of Michigan’s delegates. Both Fox News and ABC News report that 18 of these delegates have committed to support John McCain. By our independent count, this deal coupled with the West Virginia Deal leaves a tie for second place between the two candidates at 261 delegates each. As the numbers continue to adjust, we will keep updating our independent delegate count.

Huckabee clearly stayed in the race in order to surpass Romney, but did it work? Is a tie for second (or more realistically a third place finish) a victory for Huckabee, or is it merely evidence of a weak campaign?