Huckabee says passion keeps him in race

Despite another primary loss, he says he wants to deliver his message

	Mike Huckabee leaves a news conference in Little Rock, Ark., on Tuesday.
Danny Johnston / AP

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updated 10:41 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Mike Huckabee said Tuesday passion for his beliefs — not his ego — was the reason he remains in the Republican presidential race despite near-impossible odds.

Rival John McCain collected another primary win in Wisconsin and moved closer to the 1,191 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Huckabee hasn't won a contest since Feb. 9.

"It's not about ego," Huckabee told reporters at a Little Rock hotel. The former Arkansas governor said he still wanted to deliver his message about issues important to him, such as opposition to abortion and a revised U.S. tax policy.

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"We're going to keep marching on," Huckabee said. He already has campaign appearances set in Ohio and Texas, which hold primaries March 4.

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Huckabee said he had spoken with McCain after the Wisconsin primary and he thanked his opponent for running a civil campaign. "Clearly we were disappointed by the results in Wisconsin," but Huckabee said he would look for the good amid the bad news.

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