Simply Super

For fans of the NFL, the Super Bowl will be played Sunday, evening, February 3, 2008. The copious, relentless, and highly anticipated ad campaigns have already been set in place, with over 30 minutes of spots scheduled. However, for serious political enthusiasts and junkies, the Super Bowl of politics unfolds two days later, Super Tuesday, February 5th.

On that day, 24 States will conduct primaries or caucuses for one or both parties. This will be the largest Super Tuesday in history, and 52% of Democratic delegates, and 41% of Republican delegates will be awarded. Of the 24 States, 2 are Red State elections (Republican), 3 are Blue State elections (Democratic), and 19 States are both.

As the electoral process unfolds, and we stand13 days until Super Tuesday, a number of things are beginning to shift, fall into place, or become clear. The sifting that always occurs is happening. You know, separating the pretenders from the contenders.

Just this week, Republican, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson withdrew from the race. Thompson, who finished 3rd in last week’s South Carolina Republican primary had apparently seen enough to make the call to quit. Reports say he felt it was important to do well, if not win in South Carolina. Failing to win or place did not meet his self-imposed litmus test.

Several others already made the same decision, including Republicans Sam Brownback, senior Senator from Kansas, Jim Gilmore, former Virginia Governor, Representatives Duncan Hunter of California, and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, and Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin. Sources have indicated that some Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor, staff members have been foregoing pay checks due to lack of funding.

On the Democratic side, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico has already withdrawn. Richardson, who is Hispanic, added to the diversity of the Democratic slate of hopefuls.

In addition to the fallout and shortening of the bench that inevitably occurs due to lack of money, or primary wins, there has also been an anticipated increase in hostilities, especially among the Democratic contenders. This has been especially true of Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, the two candidates who have won primaries to date.

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, in 3rd place among Democratic contenders, has usually opted to sit out the fights. When taking sides, he has usually supported Obama, possibly in an effort to derail Clinton, in hopes of creating an Obama-Edwards match-up, which Edwards probably believes he would win.

Yes, things are beginning to heat up. There are more twists, turns, and subplots than a Soap Opera…with more certain to come. The race card has also made an appearance in the Campaign, with Senator Clinton’s comments on the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Lyndon Johnson on one side, and Charlotte Bobcats' owner, Bob Johnson’s unstealth-like attack on Senator Obama, presumably on Senator Clinton’s behalf, on the other. As Sir Walter Scott said, in Marmion, “Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!”

That’s enough for this week. I am done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com, or by Googling thesphinxofcharlotte. A new post is published each Wednesday.


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