John Nichols: Clinton Loses Virginia, Maryland, DC as February Slide Continues

[marmar]

from The Nation:




CLINTON LOSES VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, DC AS FEBRUARY SLIDE CONTINUES...February has only 29 days in this Leap/Election Year

But it is turning out to be the longest month for Hillary Clinton.

The New York senator whose presidential campaign team had hoped to "seal the deal" in its quest for the Democratic presidential nomination with something akin to a sweep of "Super Tuesday" primaries and caucuses instead lost at least 13 of 22 contests on February 5. (New Mexico is still sorting out its troubled count and could yet give a win either to Clinton or to Barack Obama.)

A delegate division that was supposed to confirm her inevitability instead put her in a neck-and-neck race with Obama.

And then her run took a turn for the worse.

On Saturday, February 9, Obama swept a primary in Louisiana and caucuses in Nebraska, Washington and the Virgin Islands.

On Sunday, February 10, Obama whipped Clinton in the caucuses of Maine, a state where both candidates campaigned hard and where the former first lady had strong support from key Democrats such as Governor John Baldacci.

And, now, on Tuesday, February 12, Clinton has suffered big losses in the District of Columbia and Maryland, where she was expected to trail Obama, and Virginia, where her aides had held out hope until late in the game that she might prevail.

Clinton worked hard to hold the line in Virginia, but Obama was beating her by a 63 percent to 36 percent -- very nearly a 2-1 margin.

With the Maryland, Virginia and DC victories, Obama moved ahead of Clinton in committed delegates 1,181 to 1,173. And the night is young.

Obama claimed his "Potomac Primary" wins in Madison, Wisconsin, where polls have begun to suggest that he can win the Badger State's February 19 primary. Hawaii, where Obama went to high school, will caucus that day and is also expected to go for the Illinois senator. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=284273

[skooooo]

1. If he wins Wisconsin...

Hillary would need a landslide in the remaining states to come back, imo.