With Clinton out of the race, regardless of her expected wins in West Virginia and Kentucky, the big question now is can Obama defeat McCain in November? To do so he needs to remedy some of his weaknesses. In the last two months he’s depended more on the African-American and young voters. His emphasis on the Iraq war is no longer the main issue for the American people, the economy is. And that is a major stumbling block for Obama who hesitates and isn’t precise enough when it comes to outsourcing jobs. Perceived as a “very liberal” candidate, he is losing voters among the moderates and the conservatives: in Indiana he lost moderates by 53 to 46 percent and conservatives 65 to 35 percent. Granted he is considered more “honest and trustworthy” than Clinton, but these are not the only qualities needed in the White House. He doesn’t emote strength and qualities expected in a commander in chief. Lastly, Obama has lost votes among the church goers and if he wants to beat McCain in November, he must regain their trust and confidence by enabling them to forget about the Rev. Wright controversy. Yet, one should not underestimate Obama, he has shown super organizational skills and he might be able to pull it off.

By John B. Judis (The New Republic)
Abstract by Johana Nadler
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Obama won North Carolina with 56% to Clinton’s 42%, and Clinton took Indiana by a 2% lead. Obama’s win in North Carolina is due to the 92% black votes and 55% of the college-educated ones. In both states, Clinton won among the white women, white working-class and rural voters. Obama’s expected congratulatory speech to Clinton’s victory was changed from “to her victory” to “what appears to be her victory.” Undeterred by Clinton’s narrow win in Indiana, Terry McAuliffe, Clinton campaign chairman, said “A win is a win, on to West Virginia!” The vote counts delay in Lake County came as no surprise to the Clinton group, as one source stated ‘The mayor of Gary is a huge Obama supporter and we believe they are holding the votes in Lake County deliberately to keep Hillary Clinton from going out to speak. We believe we have it but that they want to delay her speech.’ With a lead in the popular and delegate vote, Obama seems closer to winning the nomination. ‘Tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination,’ he told cheering supporters in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday night.

By FOXNews’ Aaron Bruns, Major Garrett & Bonney Kapp
and A.P.
Abstract by Johana Nadler
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