Obama and Hillary are competing for sizable if somewhat overshadowed delegate prizes this weekend as voters in scattered states take their turn saying which one should be the Democratic presidential nominee should get their combind 161 delegates. Forget the super delegates for now. It"s the real count and after this weekend one candidate will have a clear lead in that count.
You an forget about the Republican primaries after Mitt Romney withdrew leaving all the excitement and drama is in the Democratic tent.
Obama seems to have his strength in the caucus states for some reason and that will be tested this weekend as four of the five events are caucuses. Only Louisiana is having a real primary. And Maine has their caucus on Sunday, not Saturday. Here"s a detailed look at each of those five events.
In the Washington caucus gthere are 78 delegates at stake and Obama and Clinton were both stumping in the state, with the New York senator on the Seattle waterfront Thursday night and making appearances Friday, and the Illinois senator rallying Friday at an arena in the shadow of the city"s Space Needle. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama planned to campaign Friday in Spokane.
There are two major power streams at work in this state. Obama is thought to have an advantage in the caucuses, which are dominated by party activists, especially in liberal Seattle. However, Washington has a strong history of electing women. Both senators from the state are women and have endorsed Clinton. Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire has not yet made her pick but said she would before the caucuses. Stand by!
In the Louisiana primary there are 56 delegates at stake and Obama spoke Thursday to a crowd of some 4,000 in New Orleans, the city where Edwards began and ended his campaign. Bill Clinton plans a visit Friday but Hillary isn"t coming. She"s mailing this loss in since one third of the State is black and ther are few Hispanics.
In the Nebraska caucus which has 24 delegates to offer, once more Hillary is styaing away and sending a fmaily member: Chelsea. Obama visited Nebraska, with an Omaha rally Thursday night that drew more than 10,000 people. "You"re here because you don"t want to just be against something," he said. "You want to be for something." Chris Slaughter, 20, heard the speech and said: "He"s a once-in-a-generation candidate."
To offset Chelsea and make sure Nebraska ends up like Iowa did, Michelle Obama was rallying for her husband Friday in Lincoln. Obama has run TV ads in Omaha and Lincoln, and a radio spot in rural areas.
In the Virgin Islands caucus (say what?) whom the Democrats offer 3 delegate votes. Hillary is not sending anyone and Obama was there in November. Obama attracted more than 100 supporters to a one-hour reception in St. Thomas that cost up to $2,300 to attend on that trip so guess who will win these three votes?
That"s it for Saturday.
On Sunday, in the Maine caucusthere are 24 delegate votes waiting the winner. Hillary says she"c coming to this state and bringing Bill with her as well. Clinton plans to campaign at the University of Maine in Orono while Obama planned a rally in Bangor, both on Saturday. Gov. John Baldacci is backing Clinton, and led several dozen state lawmakers in a rally for her Thursday. Obama swept up $400,000 in a visit to Portland in September, in one demonstration of his drawing power in the state, said Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings, who backs him. This one could be close.
So there you have the weekend after Super Tuesday! There are 161 delegates at stake, but Obama is the only one campaigning in all four states (not counting the Virgin Island). What kind of a message does that send? Both candidates will get the message this weekend from the voters.