The focus of the U.S. presidential race shifts to the mid-Atlantic region of the country Tuesday, with nominating primaries in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has a preview.
In the battle for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois will be looking to build on his momentum after winning four contests on Saturday and Sunday.
Obama won a primary in Louisiana and caucuses in Nebraska, Washington state and Maine.
"I am here to say that my bet has paid off," he said. "My faith in the American people has been vindicated, because, everywhere I go, people say they want a new direction for the country."
Public opinion polls show Obama has a lead over Senator Hillary Clinton in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Following his sweep of the weekend contests, Clinton replaced campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle with longtime aide Maggie Williams.
Despite the latest losses, Senator Clinton remains upbeat, and is quick to point out a recent surge in fundraising.
"So many people responded - they went to my Web site, Hillary Clinton.com - that we have raised since Tuesday $10 million," she said.
The latest delegate count estimate by The Associated Press shows both Clinton and Obama with about 1,000 delegates apiece. It takes 2,025 to secure the Democratic Party nomination.
Clinton campaign officials are already looking past the Tuesday primaries to the March 4 contests in Texas and Ohio, where polls show her in the lead.
On the Republican side, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is hoping for a good showing in Tuesday's primary in Virginia.
Huckabee is looking to build momentum after he defeated frontrunner John McCain in contests in Kansas and Louisiana, while McCain pulled out a narrow victory in Washington state.
Huckabee told NBC's Today program he will remain in the race, despite McCain's huge lead in the delegate count.
"The Republican Party is not a party that likes to be told what to do," he said. "A lot of the establishment wants to just say it is over, and why do we not just have a coronation? But we are supposed to have an election, and that means people get to choose."
Huckabee's victories in Kansas and Louisiana suggest McCain has more work to do to win over conservative Republicans, who have long questioned his commitment to tax cuts and stopping illegal immigration.
But McCain is getting some high-profile help from President Bush. Mr. Bush told Fox News Sunday that he believes McCain is a true conservative, but that he needs to continue to reach out to conservatives within the Republican Party.
"You cannot please all of the people all of the time," he said. "But part of a campaign is for the nominee of a party to rally the party, and to rally the folks who are going to end up being the base from which he operates."
The president did not formally endorse McCain, but did say he was willing to campaign on behalf of the eventual Republican nominee.
McCain already has about half of the delegates he needs to win the party nomination.
Source: By VOA News
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Comments
#1 elections
Mccain is not going to court the conservative vote. He will try to get others to tell us that he is a conservative. Mccain is depending on the middle vote where democrats and independent are and will not himself drift to far to the right. He will just keep reffering to himself as a conservative. Mccain is the candidate that the RNC wants, because he is with them with the amnesty for illegals. I'm a conservative and will be voting for an independent or write in. It is time for the RNC to be put back in their place. I'll survive fours years under a democrat, heck my parents survived the depression. The RNC is like a dilapidated house that has to be torn down to the foundation and rebuilt. If we start now, maybe we can have it ready by 2012. If Mccain gets in,him and the RNC will be selling out Americans one job at a time.
#2 Enough Already!! Do Something
Every election for the selection of the presidential candidate has been important. 2/8/2008 becomes the beginning of electing a new way and expectations to run government.
The presidential candidates are asking each of us to consider who will make the greatest impact. Will Obama, Clinton, or McCain be your voice to declare war on your most important issue?
Here is a link to a cartoon to provide you some humor as you decide.
http://mynonprofitwebsite.com/blog/2008/02/01/emo-cartoon-holder-2/
The degree to which the USA is dependent upon outside financial support, the more likely that its independence is influenced by other countries. Two of the largest influences come from China imports and the purchase of foreign oil. The USA has the ability today to change its dependence upon oil and China imports. Will Obama, Clinton, or McCain be your voice to make this change of dependence?
Another cartoon by Generation O depicting the issue.
http://mynonprofitwebsite.com/blog/2008/02/07/emo-have-you-sold-out/
This election is about being strong on voicing the issues and not accepting the same past government response.