Clinton Upsets Obama to Tighten Race

New York US Senator Hillary Clinton took three of the five Democratic contests on Tuesday 4 March to deny frontrunner Barack Obama an opportunity to all but end the race for the Democratic Party nomination for President. Clinton won the Rhode Island, Ohio, and Texas primaries, while Obama won the Vermont primary and the Texas caucuses. Clinton picked up 155 delegates with Obama gaining 137. Additional delegates will be awarded as further results come in, particularly in the Texas caucuses. Obama is still estimated to have a lead of over 100 delegates over Clinton as he totals around 1525 delegates, still about 500 short of what is needed to clinch the nomination. Exit polls and surveys showed Clinton's support greatest with seniors, Mexican-Americans, and union members. The Texas primary race was viewed as being a tossup, but heavy turnout swayed the primary to Clinton.

On the Republican side, Arizona US Senator John McCain made it official as he clinched the necessary number of delegates required to secure the GOP Presidential nomination. His three primary wins on Tuesday also finally pursuaded his final nomination opponent, Mike Huckabee, to finally withdraw from the race.

There are now but about ten contests remaining Upcoming votes are to be held in:

--Saturday 8 March: Wyoming Democratic Caucuses (which I will participate in)

--Tuesday 11 March: Mississippi Primaries (both Democrats and Republicans)

--Tuesday 22 April: Pennsylvania Primaries (both)

--Tuesday 6 May: Indiana & North Carolina Primaries (both)

--Tuesday 13 May: West Virginia Primary (Democrats) & Nebraska Primary (GOP)

--Sunday 18 May: Hawaii Republican Convention

--Tuesday 20 May: Oregon & Kentucky Primaries (both)

--Tuesday 27 May: Idaho Republican Primary

--Tuesday 3 June: Montana Democratic Primary; New Mexico Republican Primary, & South Dakota Primaries (both)

Obama will win in Wyoming and Mississippi, setting up a six week window of intense and probably nasty campaigning in Pennsylvania primarily, but also in Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon and Kentucky. The Clinton machine will be throwing smears and dirt often and widespread. Unfortunately, many Texans once again have made another serious error in political judgement and intelligence by extending the Clinton campaign which will result in an ugly campaign in the coming two months.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

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