While Super Tuesday cleared up the Republican race to some degree — mostly by upending Romney’s campaign — the Democratic race was only muddled further. At the time of this writing, Senator Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, had been projected the winner in eight states, including the major delegate-rich states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California. Her victory in Massachusetts was one of Tuesday’s biggest surprises, as her chief rival Barack Obama had received several high-level endorsements in that state, including those of Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, and Governor Deval Patrick.

Despite these significant wins, Clinton’s control over the Democratic nomination remains far from secure, as Obama won an estimated 13 states, and the two were essentially tied in a 14th, New Mexico. However, most of Obama’s wins — with the exception of his home state of Illinois — were in smaller states with fewer delegates: his most significant victories were in Missouri, Georgia, Colorado, Minnesota and Connecticut. Yet his performance was credible enough for him to remain a major contender on the Democratic side.

The Democratic race will likely be decided only in subsequent contests. Primaries or caucuses will be held in eight states, including Washington, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Virginia later in February; six states, including the large, delegate-rich states of Texas and Ohio in March; and the final eight states, including Pennsylvania and North Carolina between April and June. Should the nomination process carry on that long it will not only tax the Clinton and Obama campaigns’ admittedly enormous financial resources, but may also threaten the party’s sense of unity. More likely, a series of significant wins for one candidate by early March will force the other to throw in the towel.

... contd.