POLITICS 2008

It's all about Delegates. In order to win the nomination of the Republican Party for President of the United States, a candidate must gain the votes of 1,191 Delegates.

Last Saturday, Mitt Romney won the Wyoming Caucuses and 8 Delegates in the process. Fred Thompson won 3 Delegates and Duncan Hunter received 1.

When they moved on to the Iowa Caucuses, Mike Huckabee picked up 17 Delegates, Romney claimed 12, John McCain 3, Fred Thompson 3 and Ron Paul, 1.

John McCain came in first in the New Hampshire Primary, gaining 7 Delegates, Mitt Romney won 4, and Mike Huckabee, 1.

Mitt Romney leads with 24 Delegates and Mike Huckabee is second with 18.

Romney suspended his advertising campaign in South Carolina last night to concentrate on Michigan's January 15 Primary. Rudy Giuliani, who did not campaign in either Iowa or New Hampshire, is not focusing on the South Carolina contest where Huckabee, McCain and Thompson are working hard, in order to spend as much time in Florida, where he is counting on success in the January 29 Primary to give his campaign the momentum he needs for the February 5 Super Tuesday contests to be held in 22 states. Giuliani's strategy has been to ignore Iowa and the early primaries in order to concentrate on the Delegate-rich Super Tuesday states like Florida, California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York.

Fred Thompson, who many people thought might catch fire and give disaffected Republicans someone to rally around, had not fulfilled their hopes until last night's debate in South Carolina, where he came to life with a targeted salvo at Mike Huckabee's liberal record on taxes, spending, and illegal immigration policy which energized the crowd and his supporters. South Carolina appears to be a make-it or break it state for Thompson, who currently has 6 Delegates. (Delegate counts provided by Election and Politics News from CNN)

As we approach Super Tuesday, the likelihood grows that a different winner could emerge from each of the early contests, continuing the wide-open nature of this Presidential Primary. It remains possible that no candidate will have the required 1,191 Delegates to secure the nomination prior to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN.

VIRGINIA - Delegate Bob Marshall will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by John Warner on Monday. Mr. Marshall, a staunch pro-life advocate during his 16 year tenure in the Virginia House of Delegates, will challenge former Governor Jim Gilmore in the Republican Primary. Mr. Gilmore supports legal abortion for babies in the first two months of life. Bob Marshall believes his past experience and ability to reach across party lines makes him an excellent candidate.

ILLINOIS - Aaron Schock, a 26-year-old State Rep. will seek election to the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Ray. La Hood. Mr. Schock claims pro-life credentials, yet he is listed as an Illinois Regional Chair for pro-abortion presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.