The California vote-rush
If things weren’t close enough in California they just took a dramatic twist with California First Lady Maria Shriver joining the Kennedys for Obama caucus today. Her surprise endorsement at a big Obama rally in LA with Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy guaranteed that Obama’s surge in California is the big political story of the weekend.
How California goes now is anyone’s guess. On Clinton’s side is the fact that many voted early and she can expect a big lead there that reflects her lead in the polls a while back. For Obama, the good news is that polls are generally a day or so behind and he is the candidate gaining support.
California’s delegates are dished out proportionately and so on one level it doesn’t make a huge deal of difference if Obama loses by a couple of points or ekes out a narrow win. But in terms of momentum it would make a huge difference. An Obama victory in California would be a huge story and ensure that he comes out of Super Tuesday in fighting shape and if he does that, he’ll likely be the nominee.