Super Tuesday was super indeed, but just as soon as it began, it was over. And while much of America normally feels relief after the 23 state delegate rush, this time is different. The season is in full swing and the hits are starting to hit harder.
Today is the DC, Virginia and Maryland primaries, a trio that most never matters, but totals about 240 delegates. The fact that Obama and Clinton are within 100 delegates of each other, makes every body count -- and the people of the Potomac know it.
“The nation's capital and its suburbs have a rare opportunity to help decide a presidential election rather than just obsess about it, as next Tuesday's three-jurisdiction contest centers on Washington and its two neighbors.”
Obsessing? Is that what you call staying up until 3AM following the returns and then regurgitating it to the first person you see at work? Perhaps, but he’s also right about another thing, DC can have an impact. The city is the perfect battle ground for Obama and Clinton because it is as unique as a Democratic demographic comes: gay, straight, immigrant and southern Baptist, female power and collegiate – topped by some of the biggest pocket books in the country.
Obama’s campaign is energized in the District, as last July, the young and popular Mayor Adrian Fenty
(D), endorsed Barack Obama. According to Mayor Fenty, the endorsement had much to do with Obama's potential to engage people least involved in the political process, and in the case of DC, the 600,000, including myself, without a vote in Congress -- are exactly who he's talking about.
In a prepared statement, Fenty had this to say:
"Senator Obama has committed to empower those who have been locked out of our political process for far too long, and his commitment to helping Washington obtain full representation in Congress is particularly important to our residents."
Side Note of Knowledge: How Democratic and Republican Primaries Differ
The differences between the way the Republican and Democratic primaries are counted are worth noting. In the Republican primaries, one winner takes all the delegates, whereas Democratic primaries are based on congressional districts – meaning the delegates are allotted proportionally to the vote. Because of this distinction, we are left without a clear winner on the democratic side in each state, and the District.