It’s anyone’s race as Republican contest heats up

IT’S a different winner every day in the Republican presidential race.

Mike Huckabee took Iowa, John McCain won New Hampshire and Mitt Romney — who was second in both — claimed victory in scarcely contested Wyoming.

Unpredictable from the outset, the most wide-open GOP nomination fight in 50 years is becoming even more scrambled, a consequence of no natural successor to President Bush and a party searching for someone who appeals to economic, social and national security conservatives alike.

“We’re going to move on to Michigan and South Carolina and win the nomination,” Mr McCain declared on Tuesday night after he toppled Mr Romney in an extraordinary comeback. His first-place New Hampshire finish came six months after his candidacy was widely perceived to be on the brink of extinction, rocked by money troubles and staff upheaval.

Undeterred by two second-place finishes, Mr Romney made clear he wasn’t going anywhere even though his wealth and superior organisation didn’t produce wins in states where he campaigned the most. “On to Michigan and South Carolina and Florida and Nevada,” he said. “I’ll fight to be back here in November in those states and others.”

Highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both men, exit polls conducted for the AP and the television networks in New Hampshire showed Mr McCain was viewed as the most electable Republican and had an edge among GOP voters seeking a president who says what he thinks. Mr McCain also led with those who most value experience, and he was considered the strongest leader and most qualified to be commander in chief. He won the moderate vote, the women vote and the independent vote.

Next Tuesday in Michigan amounts to a high-stakes rematch between Mr McCain and Mr Romney — with the winner assured a wave of momentum into South Carolina four days later. Both men were travelling there yesterday while their rivals turned elsewhere.

Although Mr Huckabee is polling strongly in Michigan, the former Arkansas governor and one-time southern Baptist preacher is focusing more on southern states, home to many evangelicals. Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator, is hunkered down in South Carolina, friendly territory for a southerner. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, is waiting to make his move in delegate-rich Florida, the winter home of tons of retired New Yorkers.

Mr McCain won Michigan in 2000, coming off another New Hampshire victory that year, and still has support in the state. Mr Romney was reared in the state, is the son of a former governor and has a strong organisation in place.

Mr McCain was upbeat yesterday about his prospects in Michigan.

“We’ve done well there. We’ve spent a lot of time in the state. I understand many of their challenges and issues, and they certainly are having many economic challenges,” he told CBS’ Early Show. “We have a good, strong political base. So, I’m very optimistic about Michigan.”

Mr Huckabee tried to paint the post-New Hampshire race as primarily a contest between himself and McCain.

“Mitt Romney has got the personal money that most of us don’t have. So he can continue to play regardless of the results of the election,” Mr Huckabee said on CNN. “But the momentum, I think, is clearly with John McCain and with me. And what I hope is that after we finish in these next three states, it’s with me.”