StrictConstruct

It was thought that this year’s primaries were going to be quickly decided. In late 2007 it was “clear” to many that two New York based politicians, Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton, would quickly lock up their party nominations. It was also not expected that a fairly new to the political game Senator from Illinois, Obama, and a long time veteran of that same game, McCain, would defy the odds and become not only contenders, but seemingly frontrunners. For the Republicans, both Huckabee and Paul are hoping for a brokered convention, as McCain works towards 1191 delegates. And for the Democrats, all is certainly not yet decided.

Senators Obama and Clinton are in a close race to decide the nominee of the Democratic Party. Early favorite Hillary Clinton has been overtaken, it seems, by the Democratic upstart Barack Obama. But as she would like you to know, it’s not over yet. Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the nomination rely heavily on Texas and Ohio. Even Bill Clinton acknowledges her vulnerability if a defeat was to meet her in those two primaries. She knows this fact all too well and has come out fighting in recent days. Most notably she attacked a flier that the Obama campaign released accusing her policies of mandating healthcare and punishing those who don’t comply. She replied with a scolding “Shame on you, Barack Obama” and at times comparing his strategies to the Republican strategist Karl Rove, hated by most Democrats for his underhanded tactics that have brought victories to Republicans several times.

Hillary Clinton has also come out strong against what she calls “Change you can Xerox” by Barack Obama. She not only attacks his alleged lack of substance but also believes he has plagiarized in writing his speeches which usually are received very well even by opponents of Senator Obama. However, Barack Obama also has come out attacking Hillary on several key issues. The economy and Iraq are the two most important issues for Democratic voters. Hillary Clinton, according to her record, has flopped on both NAFTA, a key economic issue for Democrats, and the war in Iraq. But regardless of any previous positions and beliefs both Democratic candidates come into Texas and Ohio mostly identical in there policies with minor discrepancies.

The results in Texas will most likely shape the outcome of the Democratic primaries and both Hillary’s chances of winning or losing. And although a recent MSNBC poll puts Obama ahead by six points, the polling from previous primaries reminds us that until the results come in we cannot know for sure who will win. That is why I am not going to risk my credibility by predicting a winner, but whatever the results this primary is truly one to remember. For the first time in our history we have a legitimate chance of having either an African American or a woman as president of the United States. Not to say that we wouldn’t be a Democracy without a woman or African American president but it is nice to see how far we have come that individuals of all backgrounds are able to run for President with a chance of winning.