GOP House leaders endorse McCain

Source: Xinhua | 02-14-2008 13:42

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who swept three Feb. 12 Republican nomination contests, won endorsement from the House Republican leadership Wednesday.

Arizona Senator and U.S. Republican presidential  hopeful John McCain (C) makes thumb-up sign as he  celebrates winning the contests in Potomac Primary, at Alexandria, VA, on Feb. 12, 2008. McCain beat his opponent during the presidential nomination contests held in the so-called "Potomac primaries" on Tuesday --named for the river that separates Virginia and  Maryland and flows past the nation's capital. (Xinhua Photo)

McCain met the GOP House leadership behind closed doors in the morning and emerged with their support.

The endorsement from the top Republicans came hours after McCain's camp released a memo saying it is "mathematically impossible for Gov. Huckabee to secure the Republican nomination for president."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is McCain's last remaining competitor for the nomination.

With the support of 827 national convention delegates, McCain is now all but certain to grab the nomination and Huckabee's chance is diminishing with only 217 delegates.

A GOP candidate needs 1,191 delegates to secure the Republican presidential nomination.

Rep. Roy Blunt, the Republican whip, declared the race over and said McCain would be the best person to help Republicans take backthe House.

House Minority Leader John Boehner started off his endorsement by acknowledging how many times McCain and the party have different opinions, but said it was his strong, principled leadership on Iraq that persuaded him to endorse the senator.