There is growing pressure by media, Republican politicians and even some conservative leaders to just accept the "inevitable" of a McCain nomination and it is imperative that we stay focused and not be swayed. I was on our high school track team for four years back in the day when my race was called the 440 yard sprint (now the 400 meter). If my track coach told us once he told us more than we could take that we were to give 110 percent until we were PAST the ribbon or the finish line. We did not slow down or stop until we finished the race!

As of today, NO candidate has the required 1191 pledged delegates required to secure the Republican Presidential nomination. That means we have NOT reached the ribbon and there are still two viable candidates in the race.

The duty of Texas voters who are committed to the principles of protecting life, marriage, family, limited government and national security is to vote our convictions for the candidate who best reflects those values and is in the best position to be competitive.

That candidate is clearly, unequivocally Governor Mike Huckabee.

Why? In spite of semi-successful attempts by party elitists and a couple former opponents to misrepresent his record as Governor, Huckabee is not only a strong conservative, he is the only credible conservative in the race if you define true conservatism as:

• First committed to the concept of "one nation under God"
• Next committed to the Declaration principles of the inalienable rights to Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness (or property and the fruits of our labor)
• Stands firmly and consistently on the moral virtues that Washington, Madison and Jefferson declared were the foundation of our culture, government and posterity
• Believes that government is limited to God's purpose and restrained by Constitutional boundaries
• Has a clear and unchanging commitment to God's design of marriage and family

There is, however, one candidate who has proven time and time again that he has no guiding principles, is willing to compromise these conservative positions, promote a new version of the "Gag rule" imposed to shut down debate about slavery - new version called McCain-Feingold - and partner with anti-American, globalist and MoveOn.org financier George Soros as well as numerous far-Left organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund. John McCain may be "anointed" by the elite - however no thinking conservative can support him until and unless there was no reasonable choice. There is.

If the Republican party has any hope of regaining the trust of the people, retaining the White House and recapturing Congress, it will only be by getting back to the Platform principles and the ideas outlined above. Governor Mike Huckabee is the only candidate with the integrity, character, compassion for people and has displayed the ability to draw support from a very diverse spectrum WITHOUT compromising his principles.

EVERY vote will count and we have one simple goal. Win Texas for Mike Huckabee.

EVERY Texas conservative needs to call, email, fax and visit every likeminded friend, family member, associate and acquaintance over the next two weeks to turn out every vote possible on March 4. This battle is about far more than the Texas delegates, the Presidential nomination or the General Election.

It is ultimately about what we will stand for and what we will stand against and whether we are as committed to laying down our convenience, our comfort, our security, our reputations, our possessions and even our lives for our convictions. We have the opportunity for another "shot heard around the world" with a Texas win for Huckabee as it keeps him viable, tells the Republican Beltway Aristocracy that the grassroots will not be intimidated and says that true conservatism is alive and well here.

Don't settle for what you are doing - make one more call, send one more email, visit one more neighbor. Don't stop before we reach the ribbon - which means we run full speed until March 5!