Obama very well could win 33 states + DC by the end of February.

[Drunken Irishman]

If Obama sweeps the February primaries and caucuses, which is very possible, he'll enter March with wins in 33 states, plus the District of Columbia. Now let's say Clinton is cash strapped at this point, do you think people will start pressing her to end her campaign and endorse Obama? I think it's a real possibility, since Obama will have dominated the entire month with wins. And much like the news focused on Huckabee, McCain and Romney over Giuliani, since he was stuck in Florida waiting for that primary, it too will discuss Obama's wins, while Clinton puts all her eggs in the Texas and Ohio primaries -- going unnoticed by many.

Then it becomes a perception game. Even though Hillary will say her fire wall is Ohio and Texas, there's a good possibility she won't have the money to really fight Obama in both those states. Which means, if Obama splits them -- or wins both -- it would be extremely difficult for her to continue onward, regardless of how many delegates she has.

From the stories being posted here about her money troubles, writing herself loans and Dean coming out saying he'll do everything he can to have a nominee by March, I think the writing is on the wall. If Clinton can't do well in the next primaries/caucuses this month, there will be some major pressure put on her to end her campaign, so the Democrats aren't stuck fighting one another and the winner can look to McCain instead.

Dean knows it will not benefit the party if this race goes all the way to Denver. Not only will it handicap finances, it essentially gives McCain months of campaigning alone, without really having to take any hits because Obama and Clinton will be focused on trying to beat each other instead of McCain.

That's how I see it, I could be wrong, but I think the window is slowly closing for Clinton's campaign and it might be slammed shut if she can't do well in many states that will vote this month.

Now let me just state that I still think Clinton can win this thing. I'm not counting her out, but it's an uphill battle. She's really good at coming back and I expect her to put up an amazing fight. However, no matter how hard you fight, sometimes you just don't win in the end.

Clinton will bank on Ohio and Texas, but to get there, I think she needs to do something in the states that are voting this month. If she can, I think she'll win the nomination. If she can't, then Obama is going to become the frontrunner and can nearly end her hopes if he splits Ohio/Texas, or wins them both.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Hillary might as well just pack it in

Obama is inevitable.

Inevitable.

--p!

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I know you're being sarcastic, but I don't think Obama is inevitable.

It is, though, vital for Clinton to win some of these states that are supposed to go to Obama this month. If she can't, I don't see how she'll be able to continue with this campaign.

If she can take Virginia and Washington, possibly Wisconsin, Maine and Nebraska, she'll be fine and could become the frontrunner.

But if she loses most of those states, including Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin this month, that'll put her at a disadvantage I'm not sure -- cash strapped and all -- she can overcome.

[FARAFIELD]

9. I dont see it

I want him to win, but she is playing a perception game and wants to keep it close. The only thing she cares about is splitting OHIO/TEXAS and winning Pennsylvania. THATS her FIREWALL, essentioally she has to cross her fingers about Michigan And FLorida as well. But really she doesnt care about the upcomings thats clear. Shed like to win one (maybe Maryland?), but its clear she has to save money.

[Bullet1987]

12. Her best bets are Virginia and Maine...and possibly Maryland

I don't see her winning Nebraska, Washington State, or Wisconsin. Obama has been sweeping most of the Midwest in states like Colorodo, Utah, North Dakota, Idaho, Kansas, etc. Hillary is stronger in the Southern Midwest in states with larger Hispanic populations like New Mexico and Nevada.

[cali]

3. Nope. Hillary will raise the money she needs to put up

a fierce fight in Ohio and Texas. She'll focus like a laser on those two states. Only if she loses one of them, will people start talking about her dropping out- and that probably won't amount to much either. She'll go on to PA. Do you really see her listening to Dean? Do you really see Obama doing that? And as you know, it's not winner take all in the upcoming states. She could (and likely will be) competitive with him throughout Feb- at least when it comes to delegates and popular vote tallies.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. I just don't see it.

Firstly, I'm not so sure she can raise the money needed to fight Obama in Texas AND Ohio. Maybe one state, but not both. And for her to do that, she'll probably need to really cut back on campaigning this month, which gives Obama a huge advantage. Let's say Obama rolls to victories this month, dominates the news and Clinton suffers one defeat after another, don't you think the perception will be that Obama is in the driver's seat with this thing? If she is still hurting with money and is losing in the polls -- which is possible if the entire month, the news keeps reporting about Obama's victories -- how can she carry on?

I would expect, if the shoe were on the other foot, Obama to drop out as well. Clinton may leave kicking and screaming, but even I think she knows it's far more important for the sake of the party to succeed than it is for her to succeed. And if it does appear this will go to the convention and she's losing state by state, it would be in the best interest of most if she dropped out.

Now I know her firewall will continue to be Ohio and Texas, but where'd we hear that before? Florida was Giuliani's firewall, everyone knew if he didn't win Florida, it was over for him. He lost and why did he lose? Well it because the perception started aligning against him. When you're out not winning primaries for an entire month, you're going to take a big hit. I suspect Clinton will take a HUGE hit by the end of February. And if Obama has won 33 states + DC, the pressure to stop will be overwhelming and I've got to think the Clintons know this.

[mohc]

10. It's not just OH and PA

Looking at the rest of the schedule, if I were to select Clinton's 5 best chances, I would pick OH, TX, VT, RI, and PA. I would throw ME in there, but I believe the caucus format favors Obama. KY and WV are tossups at best, and the rest favor Obama. Other than PA, the other 4 states I picked are ALL on March 4. March 4 gives Clinton a chance to sweep 4 states, totaling 370 delegates, although obviously Obama will get some portion of that. With 561 delegates left after March 4, including delegate rich PA, Clinton has an opportunity to turn things around March 4. Only WY and Puerto Rico have caucuses after March 4, and while the field still favors Obama, a little momentum for Clinton could go a long way.

[thevoiceofreason]

15. Her problem in Texas

Is that there is so much hate for her here (fairly or unfairly because of her husband) that the more she comes here, the worse she'll do. She'd be better served to send surrogates.

[loveangelc]

5. is it likely he will sweep all of those states...?

idk.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Maybe likely isn't the right word. Let's say good possibility.

I think there is a chance he does lose a state or two, but I think there is a very good possibility he sweeps.

Especially if he does well Saturday. Saturday will be telling, I think. If he can win all the primaries and caucuses Saturday, he'll be in good shape.

[my3boyz]

7. I'm not going to take any of those FEB

states for granted. That is what got Hillary in trouble. She thought she would sweep all the states on Super Tuesday. I think we just need to work hard and see how it goes. As Obama and Michelle said he is ALWAYS the underdog in this competition.

[bornskeptic]

8. Your math is way off.

Florida and Michigan don't count. Out of the remaining 48 states, Clinton has already won at least 10, and 14 will remain to be decided after February, so at the most Obama could have won 24 after February. He has won 15 or 16, and 8 will be decided in February.

[Dawgs]

11. If Hillary loses Ohio and Texas it's over.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. I think HRC will try to take Ohio

[cloudythescribbler]

14. As an Obama supporter, I say we need to be real -- he's in a strong position, but the fight is ON!