Obama-mentum! 2-10-08 Update

This was clearly Barack Obama’s weekend. NBC news is projecting that Senator Obama has won the Maine Caucuses by 57%. Clinton had been favored to win in Maine but their has been no recent polling data to confirm that presumption. This follows his steamrolling performance in Nebraska, Washington State, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands.

MSNBC reported this afternoon:

AUGUSTA, Maine – NBC News projected that Barack Obama has defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic Party’s Maine caucuses on Sunday, a day after sweeping three other states.

Democrats in 420 Maine towns and cities decided how the state’s 24 delegates would be allotted at the party’s national presidential convention in August. Despite the weather, turnout was “incredible,” party executive director Arden Manning said.

With 59 percent of precints reporting, Obama had 57 percent to Clinton’s 42 percent. Read More

In the Nebraska and Washington State caucuses, Senator Obama won with 68%. In the Louisiana primary, Obama won with 57% of the vote.  In the Virgin Islands, Obama won with 89%.

At this point, Barack Obama has surpassed Senator Clinton in elected delegates and is within striking distance of surpassing Clinton in total delegates (including superdelegates).

CNN Political Ticker reports that Senator John Edwards is in discussions with both campaigns over a possible endorsement.

February 10, 2008
Edwards meeting with Clinton, Obama on endorsement

(CNN) — CNN has learned that former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards met with Hillary Clinton Thursday, and is meeting with Barack Obama Monday, to discuss a possible primary endorsement.

The Thursday meeting, which took place at Edwards’ home in Chapel Hill, was followed by a Saturday night session during which the former North Carolina senator and several longtime advisers discussed many issues, including which candidate he should endorse.

At a Chapel Hill party yesterday for Edwards supporters, he gave no indication who he might endorse, or whether that endorsement is imminent. Some advisers are encouraging him not to endorse.

The former candidate is weighing a number of considerations before making his choice – including electability, and who will best promote his ideas.

There are policy considerations at play: there is a sense within the Edwards camp that Clinton’s policies could be better for working class Americans. But Obama’s anti-lobbyist proposals are more aligned with Edwards’ politics.

Two friends close to Elizabeth Edwards say she has been in support of Barack Obama, whose campaign has been touting a list of endorsements from former Edwards backers.

UPDATE: In response to such reports, Elizabeth Edwards flatly denies she favors Obama, saying she has “not even come close” to suggesting anything like that to any friend. Edwards adds that she has “no idea” why friends of hers would say that because it simply isn’t so.

The next round of voting is scheduled for Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The latest Mason-Dixon polls show Obama poised to sweep those contests.

Polls: Obama, McCain lead in MD and VA
Sunday, February 10, 2008 12:39 PM
From NBC’s Mark Murray

After last night’s contests, we now head into Chesapeake Tuesday, and two new Mason-Dixon polls show Obama with comfortable leads in Maryland and Virginia.

In Maryland, it’s Obama 53%, Clinton, 35%. And in Virginia, it’s Obama 53%, Clinton 37%.

On the Republican side, McCain leads Huckabee in Maryland, 54%-23%. And he leads him in Virginia, 55%-27%.

The polls were conducted Feb. 7-8 and have margin of errors of plus-minus 5%.

MSNBC has posted a more detailed analysis of the delegats awarded and outstanding also on FirstRead at MSNBC.com.

The Delegate Count
Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:52 PM
by Domenico Montanaro

Here is the updated official NBC News allocated delegate count on the Democratic side, factoring in the Maine results (as of 10 a.m., Feb. 11)…

DEMOCRATS
Obama 958
Clinton 904
Edwards 26

In Maine, Obama won 15 of 24 delegates; Clinton won 9. 

Here are the NBC totals for allocated delegates as of 2 pm, Feb. 10.

DEMOCRATS
Obama 943
Clinton 895
Edwards 26

Still to be allocated: 132

In GA, Obama now has 50 delegates.
In IL,  Obama now has 99 delegates
In LA, Obama won 28 and Clinton has won  20 so far.
In NE, Obama has won 16 and Clinton has won 8 so far.
In WA, Obama has won 25 and Clinton has won 12 so far.

The selection of the Democratic Party nominee for President has become a real contest between two fine candidates. No matter who wins, I believe we will have a winning candidate to face John McCain on the Republican side.