‘2nd Super Tuesday’ to Decide Democratic Race

Most major U.S. media outlets have refrained from using the term “Mini Super Tuesday” for primaries held today in four states, including Ohio and Texas.

With 370 delegates up for grabs (444 if superdelegates are included), this day is comparable to “Super Tuesday” on Feb. 5, when 22 states voted. This time, however, could be a make-or-break occasion for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential race.

▽ Neck and neck race

According to a Reuters/C-SPAN poll yesterday, Barack Obama has a slight edge over Clinton in Texas (47 percent to 44 percent) and in Ohio (47 to 45). On the other hand, he trails Clinton by three percentage points in other polls.

Given the polls’ margin of error, it is hard to say who will win. Clinton, however, could see new life if she wins Texas (228 delegates) after suffering 11 straight defeats. Ohio holds 161 delegates.

Polls show Clinton is leading in Rhode Island (32 delegates) and Obama in Vermont (23).

▽ Clinton’s last stand

The most crucial factor in Clinton’s campaign strategy in Texas is to win support from Hispanic voters.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a Hispanic, said Sunday that party disruption should not be allowed in front of the enemy, and that the candidate with more delegates in Tuesday’s primaries must be recognized as the Democratic nominee.

Trailing Obama by about 110 delegates, Clinton is unlikely to rebound even if she claims both Texas and Ohio. Thus Richardson’s comments are nothing short of a call for Clinton to drop out of the race.

U.S. media predict that Clinton will face stronger pressure to quit if she fails to win both states.

Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein of California, however, has asked Clinton to finish the race under any circumstances, saying the United States will not easily find such a competent candidate like Clinton for a while.

Clinton made an unprecedented visit to reporters on her personal flight to express her intent to stay in the race, saying her fight against Obama will continue for quite a while.

▽ Heated debate over national security

“It’s 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep,” a narrator says. “But there’s a phone in the White House and it’s ringing. It is an emergency. Who do you want to answer the phone?”

Clinton ran her latest TV ad in Texas criticizing Obama’s lack of experience in dealing with national security.

She also questioned her rival’s integrity as a Chicago property developer, Antoin Rezko, once a top Obama fundraiser, is involved in a suspicious real estate purchase for Obama and will stand trial Monday.

Despite her acid attacks, the Obama camp remained confident, saying the Democratic contest will be decided Tuesday.

sechepa@donga.com