CAMPAIGN 2008:
"5 FOR 5!"
Obama sweeps weekend primaries and caucuses, easily
defeats Clinton in Maine, USVI, Nebraska, Louisiana & Washington!
National polls suggest another round of victories in DC,
Maryland & Virginia for the Illinois senator!
NEW YORK -
Illinois Senator Barack Obama went "five for five" over the
weekend easily defeating former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in the
Virgin Islands, Nebraska, Maine, Louisiana and state of Washington. Obama's
impressive sweep has changed the complexion of the delegate count as well
as the momentum of a race that many believed would be determined on the
floor of the convention come August in Denver, Colorado.
But with
Obama hitting for the "cycle" on Saturday and Sunday, many believe the momentum has shifted and political
observers expect Obama to sweep the Potomac
Primaries on Tuesday scheduled for DC, Virginia and Maryland.
"While
we didn't win in New Jersey or even North Arlington, the Obama campaign is
gathering momentum and it looks to me he can win this party's nomination on the
first ballot," observed Councilman Al Granell, who has endorsed the junior
senator from Illinois.
While the
delegate count remains tight, Obama's five
victories will propel him to the overall lead in delegates which has been
reserved for the Clinton campaign for months. With Obama now leading in
delegates, dollars, states (18 of 28) and momentum, those who supported
him here in New Jersey are believing their decision to buck the establishment
was the right course of action for the party in the long term.
"Senator
Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton have served the country
for decades. But the overwhelming sense of change the voters seem to yearn for
won't come from the status quo. The crowds
and the tide of change is with Obama. That tide now seems to be developing
into an electoral surge for Obama forces," said one local political
operative.
Congressman
Steve Rothman, one of Obama's key supporters in the Garden State can probably
breathe a sigh of relief now that the campaign has seemed to found it's step
with voters.
"Rothman
rolled the dice and while things didn't play out as expected in New Jersey, the
44% they did receive was impressive given the fact the whole political
establishment was with the Clinton's. It
seems now Obama will be the nominee and Rothman will be the one with direct access
to the White House should Obama defeat McCain come the fall
campaign," said one Bergen County insider who wished not to be identified.
"No
matter who wins, I will support the nominee
like any good Democrat. But one can't help but believe the charisma and
style of Senator Obama is not helping us recruit more Democrats at the local
level. Here in North Arlington hundreds of new voters became Democrats. 74% of
all that cast ballots on February 5th were Democrats. This has to translate to
good news for our local ticket come November," observed Granell.
