8 Questions the Potomac Primary Could Answer

7) How Long Will Huckabee Keep Going?

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Area Voters Cast Primary Ballots

Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. residents discuss who they voted for in Tuesday's Potomac Primary.

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Huckabee's low-budget campaign continues to surprise, which is incentive enough to keep going. Strategists offer a variety of answers as to when he might quit: When McCain hits the 1,191 delegates needed to win the nomination. When Huckabee clearly surpasses former governor Mitt Romney as the second-place finisher in delegates won. When he is assured of a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Or perhaps, if he loses everywhere today, he may think about getting out now.

Huckabee dismisses the long odds against him. As the Baptist minister told an audience over the weekend, he didn't major in math in college, he majored in miracles. The pressure will grow rapidly after this week, but if Huckabee were influenced by elite opinion in his party or the drumbeat in the media, he would never have accomplished what he has been able to so far.

But having made himself a force, he'll now have to consider his future and decide whether he's putting that in jeopardy.

Which Local Politicians Will Be on the VP Short List?

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was one of the first prominent Democrats to support Obama, endorsing him a year ago.

Former Virginia governor Mark Warner considered running for the Democratic nomination but is now seeking the seat of retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R). He and freshman Sen. James Webb (D) are both on the fence in the presidential race.

Among Republicans, John Warner is with McCain, as is former governor James Gilmore, who ran briefly for the GOP nomination and is now after the open Senate seat. Former senator George Allen, who hoped to run for president until he lost his reelection bid in 2006, is also now with McCain.

So which of them will be in the veepstakes? Democrats bet that Mark Warner, Webb and Kaine will be considered. But Warner may have cost himself a serious look because of his Senate candidacy, because Democrats don't want to jeopardize picking up that seat. Obama appreciates Kaine's early support and likes the prospect of winning traditionally red Virginia. But a ticket made up of two candidates serving in their first terms is unlikely.

On the Republican side, nobody contacted was willing to bet that either Allen or Gilmore would make it to the McCain short list. But in this contest of surprises, who knows?