When is John McCain likely to be officially declared the Republican candidate?

I know it's really just a formality at this stage, it looks like he'll definitely get nominated, but when is John McCain likely to be officially declared the Republican candidate? When's the earliest this could happen? And when's the latest?

Public Comments

1. Right after he fixes his chin.
2. He's already declared himself the candidate.
3. When he reaches 1191 delegates or when Huck drops out everybody has already declared him the winner, and he has more and more focused his speaches on the general election
4. The official declaration happens after the convention at Sept. 4th. Everything before that date is only inofficial, as well as it might be sure allready. A new state of "inofficialness" might be reached, when he got the votes, he needs for nomination. This point should be reached in a month, I think.
5. Right after they put in his new batteries
6. McCain has a shot of reaching the required 1,191 delegates as soon as Mitt Romney's delegates are released and officially back a candidate. This is typically done through state republican conventions. McCain officially has 908 delegates and it looks like he has already picked up another 55 over the weekend from state conventions reapportioning the delegates Mitt Romeny won. It looks like McCain will be able to officially claim the candidacy after the March 4 primaries of Ohio and Texas. That is probably the earliest he will surpass the delegates needed. If it comes down to the last Republican primaries (highly unlikely but not impossible) then McCain could have the numbers on June 3rd. **I did not say that McCain would win when the delegates are reapportioned I said it is possible, ie it is the soonest it could possibly happen.
7. He has officially secured the nomination once he reaches 1191 delegates, which he may reach at March 4th at the soonest, but likely later. The poster above me (TBoxer) is incorrect in saying that once Romney's delegates are released, McCain will win the nomination. Released delegates are not pledged delegates, no matter what the 'owner' says. They can vote for anyone theoretically, they are not pledged until they vote in the convention. To specifically answer your question McCain won't get the formal nod until May.There is only one primary in April. Due to a lack of winner-take all states, it is realistically impossible for McCain to 'win' before May. (By realistically, I mean he's not unless he takes 100% of the vote). At the latest, it won't be until July. Also: Don't expect Huckabee to drop out, he's picked up 500,000 in donations in the last few days(which might baffle some observers). It's just realistically not going to happen.
8. He will offically be announced at the Republican National Convention in September. He will lock up the nomination when he gets 1191 delegates.
9. when huckabee drops out.