BOISE, Idaho (AFP) – Democrat Barack Obama chased Hillary Clinton and John McCain tried to lock down the Republican nomination on a frenzied final weekend before 24-state “Super Tuesday,” history’s biggest-ever one-day White House nominating clash.
Tuesday’s showdown amounts to virtually a national primary, though both campaigns said it was unlikely to decide the Democratic race, but it could be decisive for McCain, in his bid to crush top Republican rival Mitt Romney. Obama, as polls showed a close national struggle with Clinton, planned mass rallies in Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri, countering his rival’s big state advantage, in the heartland. The Illinois senator insisted Saturday before a 14,000-strong crowd here he was the “underdog” as he tackles the Clinton election machine, despite wins in Iowa and South Carolina last month and a flurry of high profile endorsements.
Obama, 46, on Sunday deploys talk show queen Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of slain president John F. Kennedy, in California for a surrogate showdown with Bill Clinton, in a state where the former president is popular. Hillary Clinton, 60, meanwhile was pounding western states California, Arizona and New Mexico, partly to drive home her primacy among Hispanic voters, who along with blue-collar workers and women make up the core of her powerbase.
She appeared at California State University with basketball legend Magic Johnson, Oscar-winning actress Sally Field, and “The West Wing” star Bradley Whitford. “Yes she can,” hundreds of supporters chanted in a pointed echo of Obama’s slogan “Yes we can.” Her raspy voice, strained by countless stump appearances, struggled to be heard at times above the cheers as she thanked supporters.
“I think you’re here because you know how important this election is. Some people running for office think only about the next election. I’m thinking about the next generation,” the New York senator said. McCain arrived Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, a state where he has a narrow lead over his top rival Mitt Romney and former Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee. The former Vietnam war hero’s emergence as party front-runner after wins in South Carolina and Florida last week, sparked a furious backlash among social conservatives who have long opposed him, and threaten to split the party.
But McCain who mounted a stunning comeback after his campaign was left for dead last year, insisted on Saturday he was the best bet among Republicans to beat Clinton or Obama in November.
“I can win,” he said. “When you look at the polling data it shows I stack up best against Senators Clinton and Obama.” He also made a bold prediction about Super Tuesday, though insisted he was not taking anything for granted.
“After Tuesday, I think we’ll assess the overall political situation, but I assume I will get the nomination of our party,” McCain told reporters. “I assume that unifying our party is a very critical item, I believe we can do that and get everybody together and working together and I’m confident I can do that.” Romney, vying to become the first Mormon in the White House, planned to attend funeral services for his Church’s president Gordon Hinckley in Utah, before heading back to the campaign trail in Minnesota.
The latest daily tracking poll by Rasmussen Reports on Saturday showed Clinton holding firm against Obama, 45 to 37 percent among Democratic voters. A Gallup daily tracking poll Saturday had Clinton up nationally by 48 percent to 41, up from a three point lead on Friday. The Gallup poll gave McCain a 20 point lead over Romney.
“Super Tuesday” will see Democrats in 22 states and American Samoa vote on their presidential nominee, while Republicans will select their favorites in 21 states. In all, 19 states have hosting contests for both parties. The states account for half the delegates to national party conventions in August and September which will formally anoint party nominees.