Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

As most of the nation goes to the polls today, the latest national poll has John McCain in a commanding position:

(n=412)
McCain 44%
Romney 29%
Huckabee 18% 
Paul 6%

Here is how the delegate count currently stands:

McCain 97
Romney 92
Huckabee 29
Paul 6 

*1,191 needed 

21 states hold contests with 1,020 delegates up for stake.

John McCain looks poised to pick up a majority of them. He will win the winner-take-all states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Arizona and pick up 236 delegate right off the bat. A number of other states that are too close to call also have winner take all primaries or caucuses, while the rest award delegates with some sort of proportional system.

But tonight will not be a coronation despite the events of the last week. 

Mike Huckabee declared yesterday that he would stay in the race until someone won enough delegates to become the nominee. He also declared that Mitt Romney was taking votes away from him. 

Mitt Romney, similarly, looks poised to continue his self-funded campaign through at least Chesapeake Tuesday (Feb. 12) and perhaps as far as March 4 when the delegate rich states of Texas and Ohio hold primaries. Similarly, Ron Paul who still has millions on hand appears likely to stay in the race through his home state.