Election Update - Obama soars past Clinton; McCain locks up Republican Nomination

First off, let me apologize for no significant updates on the election over the last few weeks due to the inundation of several members with other commitments. However, I hope that in the future that our response to news will be as quick and as prompt as possible.

Now then, over the past weeks, John McCain and Barack Obama used momentum from Super Tuesday to forward their campaign efforts. Obama swept through the Democratic contests in Louisiana, Nebraska (caucus), Washington, Maine (caucus), Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, and Hawaii (caucus)—taking the lead in delegates over rival Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton has also officially won the New Mexico primary. John McCain has also roared forward, coming within 200 delegates of a clinched nomination by taking Louisiana, Washington, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin. Rival Mike Huckabee won in the Kansas caucus, but, after nearly a month, has not caught up to Mitt Romney’s total before Romney suspended his campaign and endorsed McCain.

This Tuesday is what some are now calling “Super Tuesday 2,” when the delegate rich states of Ohio and Texas vote and can give John McCain a clinch, and, on the Dems’ side, make or break Hillary Clinton.

Democrats (2,025 to win)
Barack Obama: 1,369 (185 Superdelegates)
Hillary Clinton: 1,267 (236 Superdelegates)
There are still 1,387 delegates left.

My Take
Everything is going Obama’s way. Clinton’s big state strategy, so secure a month ago, is in jeopardy as Obama has taken the lead in Texas and is closing the gap in Ohio. Considering how rich in delegates those two states are, if Hillary doesn’t take enough to close the gap her campaign will come crashing down. She probably knows this, and her desperation can be seen by her sudden desire to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates as well as challenging Texas’s established “two step” caucus and primary set up, especially considering Obama’s strength in caucuses.

Republicans (1,191 to win)
John McCain: 1,033 (66 Unpledged RNC)
Mitt Romney(out): 255
Mike Huckabee: 247 (3 Unpledged RNC)
Ron Paul: 21
There are 824 delegates left.

My Take
The race is pretty much over. Huckabee will need nearly all the remaining delegates plus support from Romney’s delegates—not likely considering Romney’s endorsement of McCain. John McCain will the Republican nominee, and after March 4 it will be official or within a few delegates.

Links
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#val=D
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#val=R