Bill Manzi.com

Senator Barack Obama won convincingly in three contests last night, putting further pressure on Hillary Clinton. In Louisiana Obama romped. Those numbers:

Louisiana:

Obama 57%

Clinton 36%

Other 7%

In Washington Obama also romped.

Washington:

Obama 68%

Clinton 31%

Other 1%

In Nebraska Obama coasted (as opposed to romped)

Nebraska:

Obama 68%

Clinton 32%

Obama also won caucuses held in the Virgin Islands. The financial edge that Obama is enjoying certainly is giving him an advantage moving forward, as he was on the air in Washington for over a week. The delegate count is just about dead even, which will give added importance to the super delegates, and make the issue of seating the Florida and Michigan delegations crucial. More on FLA and Michigan later.

John McCains drive towards the Republican nomination slowed last night, with losses in Kansas and Louisiana and a narrow victory in Washington. In Kansas the results McCain was outright whooped by Huckabee, with the results as follows.

Kansas:

Huckabee 60%
McCain 24%
Paul 11%
Romney 3%
Keyes 1%

In Louisiana Huckabee edged McCain to rack up win number 2. Those results:

Louisiana:

Huckabee 43%
McCain 42%
Romney 6%
Paul 5%
Thompson 1%
Guiliani 1%
Keyes 1%

McCain managed a win in Washington, but just barely. Those results:

Washington:

McCain 26%
Huckabee 24%
Paul 21%
Romney 17%
Uncommitted 12%

So in the only state he won 74 % of the Republicans voted against their party’s likely nominee. That has to be data that makes Democrats everywhere smile.

My thanks to blog contributor DJ, who has pointed out a great video that brings John McCains admiration for Barbara Streisand out in the open. This is especially for Jules and the Teacher Lady, who suspect McCain of a secret left wing agenda.

Mitt Romney, bowing to the inevitable after a less than stellar Super Tuesday showing, dropped from the presidential race today. If Romney were to have any viability after Tuesday a strictly two man race was needed between him and McCain. With Huckabee remaining in the race Romney correctly foresaw no plausible road to victory. With personal spending totaling 37.5 million dollars by the end of 2007 Romney put up a sizeable chunk of change, but his advantage in resources just did not translate into votes. From the Washington Post:

“I must now stand aside, for our party and our country,” Romney said. “If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win.”

“And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,” he said.

Is Mitt Romney too perfect? (No flames on that question from the legions of Mitt haters) Why did the other Republicans in this race dislike him so much? The path to the Republican nomination is cleared for John McCain. Wonder how Rush Limbaugh feels this afternoon?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?thisObj=fo573971&vid=020708-2v_title

The Clinton and Obama campaigns are focusing on the state of Virginia as a key battle in this very tight race for the Democratic nomination. Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia will all hold contests next Tuesday, creating a regional primary that had been expected to lean towards Obama. That expectation is now being challenged by Clinton, as the delegate count becomes vital. Neither side can afford to write off the potential for delegates in a proportional system, even if it appears that a certain state may be unwinnable overall. Clinton has loaned her campaign five million dollars, as money begins to get tight for her. Read the Washington Post story here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?thisObj=fo469245&vid=020608-12v_title