Huckabee Wins WV, Romney PO'd

NBC News projects former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won the West Virginia caucus, and picked up the state's 18 delegates.

This set off rival candidate Mitt Romney, who's campaign issued a scathing statement after Romney carried the caucus' first round of ballots with 41%, before Sen. McCain dropped out, and his campaign asked backers to support Huckabee, who won on the second ballot with 52%.

"Unfortunately, this is what Senator McCain's inside Washington ways look like: he cut a backroom deal with the tax-and-spend candidate he thought could best stop Governor Romney's campaign of conservative change.

"Governor Romney had enough respect for the Republican voters of West Virginia to make an appeal to them about the future of the party based on issues. This is why he led on today's first ballot. Sadly, Senator McCain cut a Washington backroom deal in a way that once again underscores his legacy of working against Republicans who are interested in championing conservative policies and rebuilding the party."

The Romney camp may also believe (as do I) that McCain has cut a deal with Huckabee, where Huck will stay in the race and detract from their candidate's support, until McCain sures up the nomination and tabs Huckabee as his running-mate. However, in all fairness, Huckabee has raised enough money and garnered enough support to earn the right to stay in this race.