Potomac Primaries

By Broadside Staff Correspondent Sonya Hudson

Despite Bill Clinton’s appearance at George Mason University on Monday, Feb. 11, the night before the Virginia primaries, and his encouraging words for students to vote for his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, most of Virginia’s Democratic supporters voted for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

With the race close for the two Democratic candidates, Obama won the three primaries included in the Potomac Primaries, which are Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

With the start in these three primaries, Obama is on a winning streak of eight primaries in a row and has taken a slight lead in the delegate count.

In the Republican race, Arizona Sen. John McCain won the Potomac Primaries against opponent Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

McCain has consistently been the frontrunner for the Republican Party in the number of states and delegates he has won. Huckabee appeals to the conservative base of the Republican Party and provides competition, especially in the South, for McCain.

The Virginia primaries proved to be a tight race for the two Republican candidates. The Democratic and Republican candidates are now looking ahead to the primaries in Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Obama hopes to continue this winning streak in the Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Hawaii on Feb. 19 and will then move his focus to Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont for their March 4 primaries. Obama carried a broad coalition of voters including many women in the Potomac Primaries.

Though Clinton continues to win most of the white female vote, Obama carried the African-American vote, the Latino vote and the white male vote. Clinton held on to white female voters by only a narrow margin.

Obama’s message of hope resonates with many Americans, not only the young voters. His wins in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland showmany voters that Obama has a chance to win the General Election because of his broad range of support.

Though Obama fever is sweeping the nation, many criticize him for campaigning on rhetoric and hope rather than substance and details. Despite criticism, Obama continues to inspire voters. Obama delivered his victory speech from Wisconsin, where he is campaigning for tomorrow’s primary.

Obama was not the only candidate to quickly move on to campaigning in another state.

Clinton has moved on to campaign in Texas for the primary on March 4 after her loss in the Potomac Primaries. Though she continues to do well in all of the primaries, she does not appear to have the same momentum as Obama.

The Democratic race is close, but if Clinton does not win a state in one of the next few primaries, the small difference between the two candidates in the delegate count will only increase. Clinton continues to campaign toward women and Latino voters.

Clinton argues that she is the qualified candidate of the two Democrats and criticizes Obama for his lack of experience. Clinton is also criticized for being overly conservative, yet if she wins the nomination, this aspect would help her against the more moderate McCain.

McCain continues to lose the conservative base to Huckabee, who gave him a tight race in Virginia. McCain, though the frontrunner for the GOP, needs to appeal to the conservative base of the Republican Party in order to have a chance in the General Election. McCain is criticized by conservatives for being overly moderate on social issues.

By more moderates to liberals, McCain is criticized for his support of the war in Iraq and his position to keep troops there until the mission is completed, no matter how much time it might take. McCain is not only losing the conservatives of the Republican Party, but many Independents as well. He is losing the Independents to the Democratic candidates but also to his conservative Republican opponent Huckabee.

Huckabee appeals to the evangelical Christians and conservatives. He has done well in southern states, winning Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Though he is behind McCain in the number of delegates, Huckabee is confident in his decision to stay in the race because he wants the Republican voters to have a choice and argues that the tight race with McCain in Virginia is a sign that he is a viable candidate.

After the Potomac Primaries, Obama and Clinton continue to be in a close race, though Obama has taken that slight lead in delegates. McCain’s victory in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, has kept him in a large lead against Huckabee. However, there is still the division of the Republican Party and the lack of support he receives from the conservative base of his party.

All of the candidates have moved on to campaign in the states with upcoming primaries. Candidates are looking ahead in hopes of outdoing their opponents and becoming the presidential nominee for their respective parties.