CAMPAIGN 2008:

"FIRED UP, READY TO GO!"

Obama ignores negative attacks, wins Wisconsin, looks good in Hawaii, pulls even in Texas & Ohio with the crumbling Clinton candidacy!

Obama runs the table to nine victories in a row!

Illinois Senator prepared to become the party's nominee and defeat John McCain come the fall contest!

Barack Obama has won the Wisconsin Democratic Primary, making it nine in a row as now looks like the probable nominee of the Democratic Party.

His win in Wisconsin coupled with an expected win in his birth state of Hawaii makes all the more apparent the 46-year old Harvard graduate will win the party's backing and challenge Arizona Senator John McCain come November.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama found himself in the line of fire of some of the nastiest attacks of the primary campaign as the Clinton campaign suggested that frontrunner was plagiarizing the words of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, an African-American who supports Obama over Clinton.

Senator Hillary Clinton, who's lost nine straight primaries & caucuses is pulling out all the stops to stop the Obama campaign on the verge of making history by becoming the first African-American to be nominated by a major party for the presidency of the United States.

In what can be regarded as the first major gaffe of the Obama campaign, most observers saw it as "one day" news event.

"The Clinton's are competitive campaigners who take no prisoners. He and his wife need to be very careful as the closer Obama secures this victory, the harder the Clinton's will fight to prevent the inevitable from happening," said one longtime Democratic strategist.

Local Democrats viewed the Obama comments as a small story on a slow news day.

"For Hillary Clinton to suggest this man's words are not his own is a very risky political calculation. The truth is Clinton needs Obama with her when this is over. If she casts doubt over Obama's character, it could hurt the Democrats much more than the Republicans. The candidate who tries to destroy the other's character will in the end lose the race and cost Democrats the White House," said one Democratic operative who asked to remain unidentified.

While some believe Clinton could pick Obama as her vice-presidential choice, few believe he will run with her under any circumstances. But after last night's results, it seems apparent the focus of this race will now change to a one on one campaign between two sitting United States senators.

"Barack Obama is running for president. I don't believe he has any interest in being part of a Clinton White House, especially with the long shadow of Bill Clinton cast upon that potential presidency. In the end, Barack Obama will win this race because he's the fresh face America wants and seeks," said another longtime observer of presidential politics.

Councilman Al Granell was leery about the tone of the race as it gets closer and closer to the final primary and vote.

"Clinton seems to be downplaying her chances to win in Wisconsin. If students and highly educated Democrats come out, Senator Obama should win and he did just that. The nation is yearning for real change. The days of the same old politics just doesn't work anymore," observed the first-term Democrat.

With Obama just slightly ahead in the delegate count, Texas & Ohio polling suggest equally competitive races and Independents could sway the balance.

"Everything is within the margin of error. The momentum is clearly with Obama. But these March races are simply too close to call at this time. Unofficially, Obama will be the nominee. But until he reaches that magic number, he'll continue to work hard and reach out. This has been an historic effort be the junior senator from Illinois," said Granell.

---