Did the state GOP step in to prevent a Huckabee sweep yesterday?

[solarbird]

I noticed last night that percentage returns received stopped incrementing - and I'm pointed at news this morning by kathrynt that it turns out the state GOP stopped counting ballots at 87.2% and just went ahead and declared McCain the winner. The Huckabee campaign is having no part of it and wants an explanation. Here's the Washington State Republican Party press release declaring for McCain.

Y'know what'd be better than stopping the count while the party insiders' preferred candidate is ahead and declaring him the winner? Counting all the votes, and then announcing a winner. The lead was going back-and-forth much of the night; this can't be considered definitive. If McCain doesn't win Washington State, then Huckabee had a sweep of all three GOP state events this weekend, and I'm sure there is a lot of pressure to prevent that.

ETA: Huckabee really doesn't like what's going on, and says "we're looking at some legal issues" in the count.

Comments

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

I've been reading about the Republican caucus and it sounds like the delegates are not only not committed to any candidate (regardless of the vote in their precinct), but in some caucuses their candidate choice was not linked in any way to who was chosen as a delegate. It was just "who wants to be a delegate and is free on the date of the country convention" without regard for who they supported (apparently a lot of precincts couldn't get enough delegates). In that sense there's been no decision and there won't be until their country convention. It could be that a bunch of RP delegates show up and give him a sweep.

[solarbird]

That would be a change from previous years. Which could be the case - the rules do get changed around a lot. So, well, who knows? But the Huckabee team seems to think it matters, by way of sending a legal team. One way or another, I suppose we'll see.

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

Could be that a) the Huckabee team doesn't understand the way it really works or b) they do and just want a reason to make some noise since they have nothing to lose.