BMORENEWS.com

(BALTIMORE – Feb. 6, 2008) – From Chicago to Washington, DC to California – everybody is talking about this week’s Super Tuesday.

In what has almost become the national primary, 24 states held primaries or caucuses.

A brief synopsis: Republicans Rudy Guiliani, the former mayor of New York, and Fred Thompson, the former US Senator and actor from “Law and Order”: Out! Former US Senator John Edwards and Congressman Dennis Kucinich: Out!

On the winning side: For the Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain is headed towards the victory circle and is likely to get the Republican nomination for US President.

For the Dems, the party of inclusiveness: two names prevail. The race for the nomination has been reduced to a face-off between Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (Illinois).

Now, Democrats across the country watch as these two frontrunners compete for states like Maryland and Virginia - and Washington, DC in what some refer to as Potomac Tuesday.

While sentiments vary across the nation on the political prowess of Obama, a man who has clearly shaken up the world, one thing is perfectly clear: Obama is in this to win this.

Obamania
In California, Damon T. Oliver said – as it relates to the Clinton vs. Obama showdown, “It’s a split.”

Although Clinton won California, Oliver said, “People think he is intelligent and could be the future.” He countered, however, adding, “At the same time, there are those traditional Clinton supporters and who believe in her policy. I voted for Hillary. As for Obama, I’m not really strong on his policy. He is an intelligent guy though.”

Oliver, who is African American, said that the Hollywood crowd traditionally votes for Clinton. He said that Los Angeles is an economy town.

“You have to be able to tell them something,” he said. “I don’t think Obama has told them anything more than inspiration. I was not surprised by his victories on Super Tuesday. After all, he’s a mid-western guy who does well in those small-town situations. The question, however, remains to be asked: Is inspiration enough? I do think he has rock star status.”

Cornell Bass, a Baltimore County businessman who is on travel in Chicago, said, “The word around Chicago is that Obama has more delegates, more popular votes, and more states than Hillary.”

Bass, who is no stranger to politics, added, “This will be a fight that will go all the way to the Convention. In my opinion, Obama is in the lead. From my perspective, Potomac Tuesday is very important. And, it is critical that people come out and support Obama and bring people with them.

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler had similar pro-Obama sentiments.

“We have a primary coming up in Maryland on Tuesday, and we have to make sure we take it home. Super Tuesday went great, especially considering that he was so far behind. Nonetheless, he won 14 states while Hillary won 8. Further, he won states that people thought he could not win, including Missouri.”

He said that Missouri is a great indicator of where the rest of America will go.

“I think Obama has the momentum and the excitement, and I believe that the inspiration is with him. He has raised significantly more money [than Clinton] and has more staying power,” said Gansler.

Gansler, who received more votes than anyone in the last statewide election, said that Obama’s campaign is focused on the next 6 states where he “seemingly has the advantage.” Gansler said that Obama has the ability to raise more money than Clinton, particularly because she has “establishment money.” Obama, according to Gansler, has “real people giving money. And he’s drawing ridiculous crowds. For instance, he drew 15,000 people in Boise, Idaho. Currently in Maryland, Obama has thousands of people knocking on doors.”

He added, “[The Obama campaign] is something we can look back on and tell our grandchildren. Just like in the days of John F. Kennedy, we’ll be able to say we were a part of something, a part of a movement. I truly believe the day he is elected president, we will look at ourselves differently as a country. Further, the world will look at us differently.”

Baltimore City Councilman Bernard “Jack” Young said of Super Tuesday, “I am surprised that Obama won all of those states.”

Young, who is a Clinton delegate, added, “However, I am supporting Hillary Clinton. And, I think she has a good chance in Maryland.”

He said that Baltimore City, however, will probably go for Obama.

Jonn Mack, a political consultant from Prince George’s County, said Super Tuesday was not a surprise to Obama supporters.

Mack, who now resides in Baltimore County, said, “I believe Obama shocked a lot of the Hillary proponents. Super Tuesday only solidified the fact that Barack Obama is a true contender in this presidential bid. This race is one of the few races where states such as Maryland actually matter to a presidential candidate.”

Armstrong Williams, America’s leading black conservative, shared the feeling.

“Obama is in the driver’s seat. It’s his to lose. America doesn’t see him as black. They see him as the change agent for this country, the new Kennedy. There was John, and now there is Obama.”