Democratic presidential candidates, locked in a virtual tie in delegates, turned their attention to the state of Washington today, the largest of five contests this weekend.
Three of the battles -- in Washington, Nebraska and Maine -- are caucuses and in the Virgin Islands, there will be a territorial convention. Louisiana will hold a primary. All of the contests are on Saturday, except for Maine's, which is on Sunday.
More than half the Democratic delegates have been chosen: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has 1,045 and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has 960, according to the Associated Press. Other counts have placed even less daylight between the contenders.
There are 185 delegates at stake this weekend, with 2,025 needed to win the nomination.
Obama this morning toured a factory in Seattle, then held a rally in the city.
"I was convinced that the American people were hungry, were desperate for a different kind of politics, a politics that wasn't based on tearing each other down, but was based on lifting the country up," Obama told a cheering crowd.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she was backing Obama.
The endorsement is important because it could help Obama win more support from women, many of whom have tended to favor Clinton. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington have endorsed Clinton, who will hold events in Tacoma and Spokane.
"Tomorrow you get a chance to help pick a president," Clinton told a rally of nurses in Tacoma that was broadcast on cable television. "You know, if this were a primary where everybody could vote all day, I'd feel pretty good about it.
"But it's not, it's a caucus. And you got to show up at 1 o'clock, and I already met three nurses outside and I said, 'Are you going to caucus for me?' and they said, 'Well, we're working tomorrow.'
"So I need all of you to redouble your efforts to go to the caucuses tomorrow. To be there and to stand up for what we need in a president," she said.
Obama is expected to do well this weekend because of the large number of caucuses. His campaign has been effective at capturing delegates at the caucuses since Iowa propelled his campaign into overdrive in January.
On the Republican side, three presidential nomination contests are on tap this weekend. But much of the drama ended Thursday when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ended his campaign after a comparatively weak showing on Super Tuesday.
Arizona Sen. John McCain is the presumed GOP nominee, but that isn't stopping former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
"We still believe that there's a chance to win this thing," Huckabee told reporters after a rally in Olathe, Kan. "An election is about a choice, not a coronation."
Huckabee, with 195 delegates to McCain's 707, is considered a long shot for the top spot; the nominee needs to secure 1,191 delegates. Still, there have been suggestions from conservatives that Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, might make a good vice presidential candidate. He has run strongly in the South and has tapped the more conservative elements of the party because of his evangelical ties.
Also still in the race is Texas Rep. Ron Paul, with 14 delegates.
McCain, who has been wooing conservatives, many of whom oppose him because of his stands on issues such as immigration reform, tried to damp down speculation about a running mate.
"I don't want to in any way sidestep the candidacy of Gov. Huckabee," McCain told reporters before flying off to Wichita, Kan., and Seattle.
"The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over and shares your values, your principles, your philosophy and your priorities," McCain said.
In addition to Washington and Kansas, Republicans will have a contest in Louisiana.
After this weekend, the political eyes return to the Potomac area with three races on Tuesday in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment