Super Tuesday could decide the 2008 Presidential race
Tomorrow Democrats, Republicans and Independents in 24 US states will take part in the biggest vote before the Presidential election in November.
At a series of caucuses and primaries across America, 41% of the pledged delegates for the Republican convention and 52% of the votes at the Democratic convention will fall behind one of the candidates still in the race.
No wonder they call it Super Tuesday.
Among the bewildering series of voting processes between states and parties, one thing is pretty certain.
A clear victory tomorrow for any of the four major candidates still in contention will almost guarantee them their party’s nomination.
22 states will chose a Democratic candidate on Tuesday.
Democrats Abroad and in the US territory of American Samoa will also vote.
For Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the key states of California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey will be choosing their Democratic candidate.
These populous states have large numbers of convention delegates – California alone has 441, New York 280.
Going into Super Tuesday, Senator Clinton has 246 delegates, or 57% and Senator Obama has 40%.
But there have only been four state contests – Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
Tomorrow will show if the candidates’ fight for the Democratic nomination will go all the way to the convention or if one of them is the clear choice.
Republicans seem to be galvanising around the campaign of John McCain, former war hero. At 71 he is the oldest candidate in the race.
While former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is neck and neck with McCain in that they have won four states each so far, former candidate Rudy Giuiliani’s endorsement of McCain, alongside that of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, points to victory for the Arizona Senator.
While evangelical Christian Mike Huckabee is still in the race, lack of funds has damaged his slim chance of selection as Republican candidate for President.
21 states will choose a Republican candidate tomorrow, among them California, Illinois and New York.
The rest of the states and US territories will vote between February and June.
