2012 Republican Presidential Primaries

A total of 15 major candidates entered the race, but only 14 remained by the time of the first primary. Arizona Senator John McCain won the nomination, beating out Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. While initially predicted to be a close race between McCain and Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee surged in the polls and won almost as many events as John McCain, and only dropped out at the RNC. Ultimately, John McCain managed to hold off all the other candidates and win the nomination. Mike Huckabee finished second and Mitt Romney placed third. On August 11, 2008, John McCain and his running mate, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, were officially nominated as the Democratic presidential and vice presidential candidates at the Republican National Convention.