No Surpise in Kansas GOP Caucuses: Huckabee Rolls

John McCain has failed in yet another caucus state – this time the Midwestern state of Kansas.

Mitt Romney had dominated the caucuses before dropping out of the race on Thursday, winning them all (Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming) except for Iowa and West Virginia. Due to Romney’s departure, conservatives in Kansas thus flocked to the alternative to McCain, Mike Huckbee (who won the Iowa and West Viriginia caucuses).

The final Republican results:
Huckabee = 60%
McCain = 24%
Paul = 11%
Romney = 3%

McCain has yet to win a caucus state thus far – a strong indication of the problems he faces with the “heart and soul” of the Republican party. McCain has dominated in most primaries, especially those in which independents have been able to vote in the contests. The only surprise in Kansas today is that the media was somewhat surprised to see McCain lose: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer called this a “major win” for Huckabee. When Romney was racking up 5 caucus victories on Super Tuesday, the media downplayed their importance, frequently referring to them as “consolation prizes” and victories in “small states.”

McCain has now lost 18 of the 30 contests held thus far in the campaign.