John McCain’s nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate is all but official. Following a key win in Florida on January 29, earning him 57 delegates and erasing any possible contention from Rudy Giuliani, he went on to take the large majority of primary contests on Super Tuesday and beyond.As of February 18, Mike Huckabee, with 198 official delegates, and Ron Paul, with only 5, remain in the race, with Mitt Romney and Giuliani having ceased their campaigning efforts. McCain, as of the same date, held a significant lead with 808. He has since received endorsements from various prominent Republicans, including President Bush and former rival Romney, who has requested that his delegates place votes for McCain.
The probable Republican nominee does, however, still face some significant hurdles. Widely criticized by many of the party’s leaders for not being conservative enough, McCain has some work to do in earning the right wing’s support–support that will be crucial in the face-off against Clinton or Obama come November.