So, anyone here from OH or TX? How's it looking there?

[TayTay]

The Dem Presidential primary seems to have come to an endgame point. I think we will have a nominee after March 4th. Anyone in this group hearing things on the ground in Ohio or Texas?

Just curious. Nothing beats remarks you hear from the grassroots, though we should qualify them by giving some indication of who is saying it. (What is the location like, what is employment like there, housing foreclosures, etc.)

We should be talking more about this incredible and exciting Presidential race. Are people into it, sort of tolerating it, happy, sad, or what?

[MH1]

1. PA here.

Kind of hoping I don't have to get too busy on the prez primary. ;) I hope Obama wraps it up before they get to us. Although I would kind of like it if JK felt compelled to campaign here. :)

We have our hands full with other races though. Two congressmen that the right will be going after hard, plus state legislature seats. And my job has gotten a bit more intense (why I'm not here much anymore, sigh), so as much as I'd like to play a role in the prez primary, I'll be perfectly glad if I don't have to!

As far as the campaign generally so far, I waver between thinking it's fun and kind of even liking Hillary, to barely tolerating it, to just praying it will be over soon, and to swearing that I will NEVER.EVER.VOTE.FOR.THAT.WOMAN. (Guess where I've mostly been today? but I'll grow up before November, I promise.)

[wisteria]

2. I just returned from a trip to Eastern PA this weekend and many

family members are unsure about who to vote for. They had asked me the difference between both candidates and all have concerns about Obama as well as Clinton-although within my family, many seem more willing to go with Clinton. I supported Obama by using Senator Kerry's endorsement. I hope I was able to persuade some of my family. This is just within my family and they tend to make apple and orange comparisons. Phila. has had several Black mayors and most were either bad or corrupt so the lump Obama in with them. Similar to what happened to Obama in Mass. with Patrick.

Obviously, they are thinking their votes will make a difference in this primary.

[ladym55]

3. From Akron, Ohio

We saw Obama yesterday in Akron--the event drew 6,000 people. He then went to Cleveland and spoke to 7,000 people. The people at the Obama rally were a diverse group--all ages, races. We waited 2-1/2 hours in line with a multi-generational African-American family and a group of students from Kent State. Obama spoke for 50 minutes in Akron and talked about his ideas in detail. If the groups of volunteers organizing are actually canvassing, that will also help Obama.

There's lots of excitement among his supporters. I don't know how this will play out, though. The Democratic establishment around here are all Hillary backers. The local paper endorsed Hillary today and took some cheap shots at Obama's lack of experience.

I was on the fence for a long time, but I'm not happy with Hillary's campaign. Today she was filmed making fun of Obama's rallies and acting like the people there were silly. She feigned artificial outrage over an Obama mailing yesterday that made national news. My son said her campaign sent out negative mailings on Obama in Wisconsin, where he's been volunteering for Obama, so her sound byte yesterday didn't please him any.

I don't know if this information helps you any.

[beachmom]

4. Not sure if this is comparable, but nearly the entire Dem Establishment in Georgia

was for Hillary, too, including the civil rights establishment. It is true that the AA community went overwhelmingly for Obama here, but he also got 43% of the white vote in this still racially divisive state. Now John Lewis has switched his superdelegate vote to Obama to honor his constituents. The question is how good is Hillary's Establishment ground game in OH. It could be very good for all we know.

I have a feeling that Hillary will still win Ohio, but that Obama will come very close in TX. I think TX is different from OH, and could be more favorable to him. We shall see.