The Hindu : Criticial round for Democrats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

International

International

Criticial round for Democrats

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington: Democratic hopefuls are getting ready for yet another critical round later in the day. Primaries are being held in South Carolina, Delaware, Missouri, Arizona and Oklahoma; and North Dakota and New Mexico are getting ready with the caucuses. There are 269 delegates or a little more than 10 per cent of what a candidate will need — 2161 delegates — to be won over to clinch the party nomination. First indications are that the Senator, John Kerry, of Massachusetts is poised to win in most of the states, the only question mark being South Carolina, the home turf of Senator John Edwards, and Oklahoma where the retired General Wesley Clarke is seen as being slightly ahead. "I am not paying attention to labels and polls. I am just out there campaigning hard and asking voters to support me because I think I'm the strongest candidate to beat George Bush," Mr. Kerry has said. In many ways the outcome of February 3 will have a tremendous impact in and of itself as also for the Super Tuesday of March 2 where 10 states, including the large ones like California and New York, cast their preferences. The former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, has said he will go on irrespective of the result.

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