BLOGGER: Potomac Primary Insider

By Mason Blogger Isaac Pacheco

I waited in line with my voter registration card in hand for nearly an hour this morning at the Lee Center in Alexandria, Va. Dozens of my fellow Virginians lined the community center hallway, each waiting his or her turn to cast a ballot in one of the most closely watched primary election battles in recent history. While waiting, I snapped some photos of the democratic process in action. I then had my say at a digital ballot box that looked like an overgrown Palm Pilot.

Although Republican Party front-runner, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is a near mathematical shoe-in for the Republican Presidential nomination, the Democratic Party contest remains too close to call. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) leads in the Virginia and Maryland polls by large margins, and another rout of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) would undoubtedly add increased momentum to his resurgent campaign. However, Clinton's camp is undaunted by the prospect of another Obama sweep. Clinton officials say she is already looking ahead to power states like Ohio and Texas where polls show her as the early leader.

Even if Obama wins in all three Potomac Primary regions (Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C.) he would still need to do exceptionally well in the remaining states to clinch the number of delegates necessary to receive the nomination. If the recent "Super Tuesday" primaries are any indicator of future results that feat seems unlikely.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee remains a vocal, although barely viable, candidate in the Republican primary race. He has repeatedly declined to bow out, claiming that the issues he supports are to important to not be heard. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) also remains in the Republican race although only by principle since he is no longer a viable candidate.

If the final tally of today's Republican vote skews toward McCain, Huckabee will no longer be a viable candidate, and will likely concede, or suspend his candidacy. On the other hand, the Democratic race will undoubtedly continue well past the Potomac Primaries, and some analysts have predicted, all the way to the Democratic National Convention.

See Pacheco's blog, Universal Veritas, here.