McCain wins big delegate states; Clinton edges ahead of Obama
Republican candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain is inching closer to winning the GOP nomination.
McCain won more delegates than either of his competitors after 21 primaries and caucuses Tuesday.
Thomas Stewart, a CMU temporary political science faculty member, said McCain has run a strong campaign in many states.
"He's had a very powerful campaign ... in many states," Stewart said. "McCain has been able to win so many states in New England, especially because of the open primaries in which Democrats and Independents were allowed to vote for him."
As of midnight Tuesday, McCain had 371 delegate after winning Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had 146 delegates and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 160.
Despite his victories, McCain, Romney and Huckabee still are battling for the GOP nomination after Super Tuesday's primaries and caucuses.
Huckabee pulled out surprise victories in Bible Belt states such as West Virginia, Arkansas and Alabama, while Romney's campaign has faltered, according to Bill Ballenger, former Griffin Endowed Chair and editor of Inside Michigan Politics.
"The motif of the night is tag team between Huckabee and McCain," Ballenger said. "McCain has either won the states or lost narrowly to his best buddy Huckabee. Romney has finished third in all of those (Bible Belt) states, making the argument he should leave the race."
Ballenger said Tuesday was a big night for McCain and Huckabee.
"Huckabee has been the surprise winner compared to expectations, and Romney has not done what he needed to," he said.
The Republicans utilize a "winner-take-all" delegate system, meaning if a candidate wins the majority number of votes in a state, the candidate will win all the state's delegates.
Despite Tuesday's result, Topinabee junior Dennis Lennox II said there is no clear front runner for the Republican nomination.
Lennox, CMU Campus Conservatives spokesman, said this year's condensed primary system is flawed.
"I think it's unfortunate this whole process has been rushed so quickly. (It's) much better to have an elongated primary system," Lennox said. "There are still states not voting until March, April, May - their votes should count just as much as everyone else's."
Democrats:
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama split the primary polls neck-and-neck for the Democratic nomination on Super Tuesday.
The presidential race, even after 22 primaries and caucuses, is a muddled picture, said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics and former Griffin Chair.
"It's an even split so far," Ballenger said. "The Democratic race is going to continue on for weeks or even months ahead."
Democrats competed in a struggle between New York's Clinton, seeking to become the first female president, and Illinois' Obama, hoping to become the first black to win the White House.
Clinton took Arkansas, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee as of midnight. Obama had Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah.
The most unique part of this particular election is the voter turnout, said Thomas Stewart, Central Michigan University political science temporary faculty member.
"The biggest factor (this election) is the participation seems to be way above normal," Stewart said.
In order to win the Democratic nomination, 2,025 delegates of a possible 4,049 are necessary. The Democrats' delegate count system utilizes proportional representation to determine the number of delegates earned.
For example, Ballenger said, when the results in a state such as California are totaled, if one candidate wins 55 to 45 percent, they will only receive 55 percent of the delegates.
As of midnight, Clinton earned 414 delegates, and Obama 331.
Matt Sous, Freeland junior and College Democrats president, said the country seems to be a lot more energized compared to previous elections.
"We're really excited about our candidates," Sous said. "The youth vote is coming to be a very important factor this time around, and has come out in support of Obama."
Overall, Clinton had only a slight edge among women and white voters, groups that she had won easily in earlier contests, according to preliminary results from interviews with voters in 16 states leaving polling places. Obama was collecting the overwhelming majority of votes cast by blacks.
Clinton gained the votes of roughly six in 10 Hispanics, and she hoped the edge would serve her well as the race turned west to Arizona, New Mexico and California, the biggest prize with 370 delegates.
"Plan on a drawn out battle on the Democratic side in the spring," Ballenger said. "Obama has a lot of money. He raised a record amount of money for any candidate, $32 million in January. He has the money to continue, and the remaining primary states favor Obama."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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