This is interesting, K-Lo. Let me take an excerpt from what you just posted about McCain’s comments.
McCain said … that he hadn’t yet decided on precise benchmarks. “They’d have to be specific, and they (Iraqi government officials) would have to meet them,” he said.

Asked what penalty would be imposed if Iraq failed to meet his benchmarks, he said: “I think everybody knows the consequences. Haven’t met the benchmarks? Obviously, then, we’re not able to complete the mission. Then you have to examine your options.”
ME: So, if the Iraqi government didn’t meet specific benchmarks, then we are not able to complete our mission, and we would have to examine our options? If I twist this the way McCain is twisting Romney’s comment, then I suppose I could argue that McCain favored setting a date for withdrawal — and not so secretly. But that’s not what he said. And that’s not what Romney said. And the fact that now Huckabee endorses the McCain spin on this underscores, for me, what a joke they (he and this phony issue) are.

And lest we forget, when Romney demanded an apology from McCain for misstating what Romney said, McCain’s response was that Romney should apologize to the troops for his (non-) position! That, to me, took this nonsense to a new level of audacity.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, polling a distant fourth in the upcoming Florida primaries, continued to attack former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, while offering implicit support for his other rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in his appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”

When asked to take sides on a dispute between Romney and McCain over whether the former Massachusetts governor called for a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq last April, Huckabee sided squarely with McCain.

“Dishonest? I’ve never seen John McCain say something that is just blatantly untrue,” Huckabee said. Huckabee later praised McCain, saying “we have a civil approach to presidential process. Neither of us has sought the office by cracking the kneecaps of the other.”

But then he figuratively cracked the kneecaps of Romney by questioning the former governor’s veracity.

“There are published reports that I’ve seen in which Mitt Romney did in fact talk about support for – not a public timetable – but a secret timetable that would be held by administration officials and members of Congress,” Huckabee said.

And during the interview, he quickly papered over several policy disagreements between himself and McCain, but whacked Romney over his business experience, claiming he “wasn’t impressed” with Romney’s private sector experience.

“When Mitt Romney and the other Republicans a few months ago in Dearborn, Michigan at the debate were talking about how great the economy was, I was jeered and sneered, but I was the one saying it may not be that great,” Huckabee said.

“I was understanding that, seeing it, predicting it. People were laughing at me then, now they have to admit that I was right.”

ME: I’d say Huckabee has the McCain talking points down pretty well.

Fellow senators and independent political scientists said McCain’s thinking reflected growing concerns within the Republican Party about the course of the war, and also might mark a turning point for the likely 2008 presidential contender, whose previous unconditional backing of the war may have hurt his prospects.

McCain said Thursday that he hadn’t yet decided on precise benchmarks. “They’d have to be specific, and they (Iraqi government officials) would have to meet them,” he said.

Asked what penalty would be imposed if Iraq failed to meet his benchmarks, he said: “I think everybody knows the consequences. Haven’t met the benchmarks? Obviously, then, we’re not able to complete the mission. Then you have to examine your options.”

Barak Obama is not the only candidate running against a two-some. I think it’s pretty clear now that the McCain-Huckabee campaigns are working pretty closely against Romney. And I continue to suspect that Huckabee is playing the role of spoiler for McCain in hopes of getting the second spot on the ticket, or something, as Huckabee will not be the nominee (and has no intention of dropping out). Here’s the most recent from Huckabee:

Huckabee attacks Romney, defends McCain.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, polling a distant fourth in the upcoming Florida primaries, continued to attack former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, while offering implicit support for his other rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in his appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”

When asked to take sides on a dispute between Romney and McCain over whether the former Massachusetts governor called for a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq last April, Huckabee sided squarely with McCain.

“Dishonest? I’ve never seen John McCain say something that is just blatantly untrue,” Huckabee said. Huckabee later praised McCain, saying “we have a civil approach to presidential process. Neither of us has sought the office by cracking the kneecaps of the other.”

But then he figuratively cracked the kneecaps of Romney by questioning the former governor’s veracity.

“There are published reports that I’ve seen in which Mitt Romney did in fact talk about support for – not a public timetable – but a secret timetable that would be held by administration officials and members of Congress,” Huckabee said.

And during the interview, he quickly papered over several policy disagreements between himself and McCain, but whacked Romney over his business experience, claiming he “wasn’t impressed” with Romney’s private sector experience.

“When Mitt Romney and the other Republicans a few months ago in Dearborn, Michigan at the debate were talking about how great the economy was, I was jeered and sneered, but I was the one saying it may not be that great,” Huckabee said.

“I was understanding that, seeing it, predicting it. People were laughing at me then, now they have to admit that I was right.”

ME: I’d say Huckabee has the McCain talking points down pretty well.