Pastor without a prayer stays in race

Dallas: Republican Mike Huckabee probably hasn't got a prayer in his bid for the US presidency. But the guitar strumming, joke-cracking Baptist preacher may be a longshot for the second White House job.

The former Arkansas governor remains behind rivals Arizona Sen John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney but did better than expected in Super Tuesday voting, drawing on support from his evangelical base in the South.

"We're still in this, we've been saying that for a long time," Huckabee said on CNN on Tuesday night.

Political analysts say only a miracle could push him over the top - but they're not ready to consign Huckabee to the electoral wilderness.

"Huckabee represents the social conservative wing of the party right now and I think he's in it at least partly for the movement," said David Domke, a professor of communication at the University of Washington.

"If he steps out of the race, that part of the party has no influence and so they appreciate him staying and will reward him for that, perhaps by pushing for him to get the vice presidential nomination."

The conservative blogs also have been promoting the idea of Huckabee as vice presidential nominee - provided McCain wins. He would help McCain by providing the conservative credentials that some Republicans accuse the senator of lacking.