March 4th Breakdown

Clinton has not only won the powerhouse Democratic states of California, New Jersey, and New York, but also a crucial general election swing state — a major one, Ohio, and other key battlegrounds including Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire and New Mexico. Now, add to this another "big state"--Texas, and you can see how Obama could be seen as weak in the general election; if he can't beat Clinton in places like Ohio and Texas, how is he going to be victorious over McCain on Republican home turf?

Speaking of Ohio, the state that gave Dubya his 2004 victory, let's consider another state that gave Dubya the White House--Florida. Flash forward to 2008 Democratic primary: It was arguably a tabula rosa-like level playing field for Obama and Clinton because neither campaigned there but both were on the ballot. And who did Florida go for, albeit in a "mock primary"? That's right, Clinton--all of which spells more psychological, if not mathematical, trouble for Obama. Oh, he will most likely win the primary nomination, but that is NOT the big prize. Without the ability to make a strong statement in swing states like Ohio and Florida--which would have meant at least edging out Clinton--my fear is that he is unlikely to be a force to be reckoned with in November. And don't even give me that caucus nonsense--last I checked, caucusing doesn't win the White House.