In Va., Huckabee Again Shows Strength on Right

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The Candidates React -- McCain

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) addresses his supporters from Alexandria, Va. after Tuesday's Potomac primary election results filter in.

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Turnout among Republicans lagged historic numbers among their Democratic counterparts. In Virginia, almost twice as many Democrats voted in their primary than Republicans did in theirs.

McCain's reputation as a senator unafraid to challenge President Bush helped him win big among moderate voters, according to exit polls. But those same traits may have cost him support in rural areas, especially in Southwest Virginia, western Maryland and Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Maryland and Virginia voters who said their most important issue was choosing a candidate who shared their values preferred Huckabee by about 2 to 1. He also won big among evangelical voters and among those who call themselves very conservative.

Those voters turned out in large numbers yesterday. About a third of GOP voters in Virginia and Maryland called themselves very conservative, up from 18 percent in the Republican primary in 2000.

Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell, Huckabee's highest-profile backer in the state, said the results show that McCain "has some work to do to convince Republicans and independents that he's the man. . . . There are a lot of people still searching."

Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, said: "Conservatives have not been ready to put their imprimatur on McCain. Inevitability has not translated into affection, and that is a continuing challenge for him."

A former Navy hero and Vietnam prisoner of war, McCain captured big margins in Maryland and Virginia among those who have served in the military. He bested Huckabee among voters who said their most important issues are terrorism and the Iraq war.

Regardless of which candidate voters supported, McCain far surpassed Huckabee as "most qualified" to be commander in chief, and as the most likely to beat the Democratic nominee in November.

Huckabee campaigned aggressively in Virginia this week, running numerous TV ads and appearing Sunday before more than 6,000 people at the church of the late Jerry Falwell in Lynchburg. He repeatedly appealed to supporters to ignore pronouncements that McCain should be crowned as the nominee.

That plea appeared not to pay off. McCain surpassed Huckabee among voters who made up their minds in the past week, according to exit polls.

In Loudoun County, Huckabee found support yesterday among some voters who said former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney had been their first choice, and among others who wanted to send a message. Former Romney supporter Mark Vayda, 82, chose Huckabee because he said McCain is weak on immigration.

Janice Schell, 45, of Purcellville, a self-described conservative Christian, voted for Huckabee even though she acknowledged that his chances are slim. "I'll support John McCain if he gets the nomination. I guess it's just to make a statement," she said.