McCain and Obama have continued their winning runs in the US presidential primaries after Super Tuesday. McCain was a clear winner on Super Tuesday, and Obama was neck and neck with Hillary Clinton – ensuring the race would continue after last Tuesday’s mammoth vote. Today Obama has now outstripped her in delegates.
On the republican side, a david vs goliath situation is developing. The biblical allusion is apt, on the one side, the veteran (both politically and military) McCain is commanding the Republican race. His opponent the little known baptists preacher and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, is doggedly holding on. Its an interesting situation – Huckabee is smack bang in the middle of the conservative Christian Republican base, but he lacks the charisma and tenacity to take on either Obama or Hillary. To some Republicans, a vote for Huckabee is more a sign of solidarity than a real political commitment. Its no surprise that he is romping home in states like Kansas, but failing to make a significant impact in California or Florida.
Conversely McCain has the opposite problem. Being a maverick Republican he has real issues to overcome regarding his connection to the tradition GOP base. His support of an amnesty last year for illegal immigrants had traditional Republicans squirming in their seats. However, if it’s Clinton or Obama in November, McCain is someone the Republicans could reluctantly rally around.
Obama’s delegate count is surprising – predictions were that after Hillary’s big wins of New York and California on Super Tuesday, the game would be all hers in the days that followed. Obviously it hasn’t been, and this latest development really puts the pressure on Hillary to hitch up her skirts, and get down to work.
Expect some fireworks.