(CNN) -- GOP front-runner John McCain has all but sealed his party's presidential nomination, but instead of focusing on his national campaign, the Arizona senator is still contending with Mike Huckabee.

Some Republicans worry the longer Huckabee stays in the race, the harder he makes it for McCain to make amends with skeptical conservatives.

"As long as my guys are still waving their pompoms, I think we're going to stay on the field," Huckabee said Monday on CNN's "American Morning."

McCain has 723 delegates to Huckabee's 217, according to CNN calculations. Texas Rep. Ron Paul trails with 16 delegates.

"The goal is still to win ... Everybody keeps talking about, 'Well, the math doesn't work.' We don't know what is going to happen," Huckabee said.

"As long as Mike Huckabee stays positive, and as long as he does not stimulate a third-party challenge from the right in the fall, Mike Huckabee staying in could actually help John McCain," said GOP pollster Whit Ayres.

Criticism from conservatives could make McCain look better to the independents who will play a big role in the general election, Ayres said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/11/gop.campaign/index.html