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There was a great battle waged this weekend. It was waged across our vast nation. It was waged from the fisheries of Maine to the cornfields of Nebraska. From the cobblestone streets of New Orleans to the deep forests of Washington state. After the battle was over, one victor stood alone. The victor was Obama, and thrashing in agony and writhing in confusion was Hillary. Sweeping all four states with landslide majorities, Obama has proved that demography is not a barrier to his success. Whether it was Blue state or Red State, Liberal territory or Conservative terrority, Black or White, the resonance of his voice seemed to carry strong. Those who early on injected the question of race to explain Obama's resilience, particularly in South Carolina, were soundly quieted this weekend. Louisiana, the only state with a significant Black population, registered a solid 57% victory for Obama. However, it was in Nebraska where Obama's dominance stood at 74% and Washington, at 68%, where the figures were truly telling. It is no longer clear whether race will play a major factor in the primaries. Perhaps it may for the general election, but perhaps it just may not as well. There was little question that the primary calendar this month was in favor of Obama, in fact, after Super Tuesday, it was clear that Hillary was looking straight into March. However, the margins of victory are quite telling. It is quite telling of the massive momentum that the Obama campaign train has been able to muster. The Hillary campaign soon hit chaos as the news of this routing started to take hold, she spent little time in firing her campaign manager. If a campaign can be in crisis, this certainly is it. Hillary must better start interviewing quickly, because as time drags on, Obama's momentum grows. By establishing a dramatic grassroots campaign staffed by energetic volunteers, fueled by idealism and invigorated by their almost messianic belief in their candidate, the Obama campaign has been able to raise unprecedented amounts of cash that continue to build this powerful momentum. There is no doubt that this race remains a close one, and Hillary has several states where she is a favorite in the upcoming month. However, based on the trends, momentum and fundraising abilities of the Obama campaign, I am willing to make an assertion that Obama will be the Democratic candidate for president. In the relatively placid Republican race, Huckabee demonstrated stubborn tenacity and conservative voters sent McCain a message. In Kansas and in Louisiana, the message sent to McCain was clear, "We are not ready to support you". However, this is of little consequence, as McCain leads by hundreds of delegates and his inevitable election as Republican candidate is all but certain. It is certainly clear that he already catches the drift. In an unusually humble speech to CPAC, McCain, in self-depracating humor, requested the support of the conservative wing of the Republican party. As McCain brought up issues relating to illegal immigration, boos and howls filled the room. However, McCain brushed these off with humorous candor and charm, a striking departure from his typical fighting spirit. In the end, McCain graciously asked for support and it is likely he will get it. Huckabee, trying to keep hope alive, is, at the same time making a tremendous case that he deserves to be the running mate. In many characteristics, with the notable exception of being closely aligned with big business, McCain and Huckabee enrich each other's conservative credentials. Huckabee, a charming and affable character, has great resonance with the conservative heartland, where McCain is weak. Huckabee's religious credibility balances McCain's liberal tendencies, and gives enough legitimacy to a McCain-Huckabee ticket to earn the support of the religious right. On the same token, McCain, a foreign policy hawk, satisfies the foreign policy wonks of the Republican party in a way Huckabee, with limited international experiences, does not. Perhaps greatest of all, Huckabee has never had a personal tiff with McCain, and that, in itself, is no easy task. The next few months will be interesting to watch. Many questions remain, however, I predict an Obama-McCain showdown.
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Obama will whip McCain when it comes to the general election.