(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-13 10:55

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain won the Washington, D.C., contest to choose a Republican presidential candidate on Tuesday, widening his lead over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the race to represent the party in the November election, NBC news projected.

The maverick Arizona senator is almost certain to win the Republican nomination because of his commanding lead, but Huckabee has continued to score victories in conservative states, showing front-runner McCain has yet to fully win over a skeptical party base.