This is Barack Obama addressing a rally in Rhode Island, one of the 4 states headied for the primaries on March 4, 2008. So far he has run a very positive campaign stridently putting forth calls for change in an increasinly bitter politicaldiscourse. John Mccain, the Republican front runner, is trying to focus on the Iraq War in the hope of whipping up a patriotic fervor that will help swing votes in his direction. From all accounts the American people have gotten sick of the war and want the troops home as soon as possible. Hillary Clinton, after losing 11 straight contests has started doing what she and Bill do best, attck without provocation and hope to discredit the Obama campign. I cannot imagine what experience Hillary Clinton has when she packages herself as a "candidate with experience" from day one. If living in the White House is experience, then Socks has the same expeience as Hillary Clinton. Barak Obama has had a few despairing moments:He has had to distance himself from Rev Louis Farakhan and the endorsement received from his camp.

Barack Obama has remined faithful to his campign slogan of "Change and Hope". He has presented himself as the outsider who does not have a stake in the status quo. And unlike Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama has virtually transcendedx his color and race. I think he will sail past Hillary Clinton in Ohio, Taxas, and Vermont but in tiny Rhode Island it will be difficult for me to predict. In Texas there is a massive swing of Latino base of the Democratic party to the side of Barack Obama and with the economic difficulties of the momnet, the blue collar voters of Ohio will desert Hillary Clinton in droves.

The camapign of John Maccain is right on track. Though the Republicans are not showing much enthusiasm in the primaries, it will be a different picture in November. It looks as though Obama will e the Democratic party nominee and in this case the campaign for the Presidency will revolve around the Iraq War and the Economy.

Mike Huckabee has no chance of winning the nomination but he is bravely soldiering on to keep the conservative base of the party in tact and position himself as the front runner in 2012. He has a pleasnt demenour and of all the candidates the one who connects with the audience in a charming manner.

The next set of primaries will finally settle the issue of nominations. Ralh Nader, though an intereasting personality will not be able to get more than yhe.03% he got last time.