By Big Tent Democrat

This morning I watched the appearances of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the Today Show. While there is much to remark upon about these appearances, I was most struck by the statements made by both candidates that they will agree to a revote in Florida and Michigan.

Clinton of course was emphatic that Florida and Michigan had to be seated. She must know that they will not be seated solely based on the January results that strongly favored her. Some type of revote will be necessary. Her position seemed like bargaining posturing to me. But she did accept the idea of a solution to seating the Florida and Michigan delegations that includes a revote.

Obama expressed no concern at all about seating the Michigan and Florida delegations instead saying he has abided by the rules and that he will abide by any ruling of the DNC, including the ordering of a revote.

There you have it. It is now up to Howard Dean and the DNC to fix the mess they have made. The two candidates have expressly accepted a revote concept. Now Howard Dean and Donna Brazile need to get it done. Again, if they need ideas, my solution is here.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

So where are we now? Here's my take - we have two candidates who have strengths and weaknesses. Unlike a lot of people, I am not that enamored of either candidate but I feel confident that both believe in progressive Democratic values. I have always wished both would be more overtly fighting for Democratic values and against Republican values, but I have made my views known that I have found Barack Obama's approach on that quite wanting.

There are some realities that the Super Delegates should consider when deciding which nominee to throw their support behind. The first is that Hillary Clinton, while a fine Democrat, is and will be subjected to unfair Media coverage. Period. Nothing will change that. Barack Obama has been a Media Darling and is certain to get better Media coverage. This matters. I wish it did not, but it does.

More . . .

Only 5% in, with Obama at 56% and Hillary 44%.

I'm just looking for Hillary to win the popular vote. That will give her superdelegates a reason to stay with her.

If Obama loses Texas and Ohio, in the popular vote, many Democrats will begin to question whether he can win the big states, especially Ohio, to beat John McCain.

I'm not that interested in the caucuses. I think it's very likely the superdelegates will be deciding this race. Ill be updating this primary vote thread, but here's a place for you to comment on them.

Update: Just heard from a reader who I wrote about this morning. Hillary won his caucus, his report is below:

By Big Tent Democrat

Hillary Wins Texas says CNN and NBC.

Listen to the whining from NBC.

BTW, you are hearing a lot about Florida and Michigan again. Told you so.

Oh and there is no doubt now that the ticket will be Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama.

Update (TL): Congratulations, Hillary. And I'm not convinced the ticket will be Hillary-Obama or vice-versa.

Comments over 200, this thread is now closed. New ones are up.

Big Tent Democrat

Hillary Wins Texas says CNN.

Clinton is stretching her lead, up 70,000 with 75% in.

Texas is close. And Hillary has the Latino vote to thanks for that. In El Paso, Hillary is winning by 70-30 with 12% of the returns in. In Webb County, she is winning 77-21, with the votes just started.

We'll keep watching this race until it is called.

On an another note, the delegate race looks promising for Hillary tonight. After Gloria Borger said that Vermont (which divided 9-6 for Obama) would provide the largest delegate margin, CNN currently projects Ohio to provide Hillary a 46-24 delegate advantage with many to be decided. In Rhode Island splits 5-1 currently for Hillary with 15 to be decided. Texas remains to be seen. So far tonight, Hillary has gained 23 delegates with many still to be decided. [More...]

Obama is in San Antonio, a city he didn't win. I wonder why he picked it to spend tonight.

He says we may not know the Texas results until tomorrow. He congratulates Hillary on Rhode Island and says while there are a lot of votes out in Ohio, she "apparently" won there.

We have the same delegate lead we had this morning and we are on our way to winning the nomination. "Si se puede."

Decades ago as a community organizer........ (again?) Talks about youth, a reason to believe, inspire the nation to come together, we are turning the page, we are ready to write the next chapter.

More...

Update: Hillary wins Texas. New thread here. This one is closing.

Update: It's now 66% and Hillary has a 55,000 vote lead.

Update: 55% of vote is in, Hillary leads by 55,000 votes.

Okay, it's down to Texas. 50% of the primary vote is in, and Hillary is ahead. She leads by 30,000 votes.

Hillary has swept through rural Texas. Obama has Dallas and Houston, but she has San Antonio by 12%. She'll also take El Paso and the South.

CNN projects Ohio for Hillary!

Hillary's on her way to speak to supporters, the networks will cover it.

Update: Live blogging her victory speech: Hillary is jubilant. She looks fabulous in red. The song playing: Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising." She's smiling from ear to ear. "As Ohio goes, so does the nation."

"This nations coming back and so is this campaign."

"No one has won the White House in recent memory without winning the Ohio primary."

She lists all the states she has won. "Americans don't deserve more speeches, they deserve solutions and they deserve them now."

"We're ready for health care for every American." She does a recap of the 3 am call... "There's no time for speeches or on the job training." She looks forward to debating John McCain. [More...]

Update (TL): Hillary now leads in Texas by 1,800 votes. All the commenters agree, whatever happens in Texas tonight, Hillary will stay in until Pennsylvania. She has the momentum now. Most of those deciding who to vote for in the last three days picked her. She's got 2/3 of the Latino vote, which makes up 1/3 of all Texas voters.

By Big Tent Democrat

OHIO

Clinton 640,000 (57%)(WIN)
Obama 459,000 (41%)

51% reporting

TEXAS

Clinton 885,000 (50%)
Obama 867,000 (49%)

44% reporting

Update: (TL)Comments now closed here.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

NBC seems upset that Hillary Clinton is not likely to drop out of the race tonight. They really seem to not want to cover this race anymore. I think the solution is simple. Do not cover the race NBC.

Believe me, a lot of us will not complain if we never hear Tweety, Punchline KO Olbermann, Pumpkinhead Russert and Blowdried Brian Williams speak another word about it.

Do us all a favor NBC, black out the Democratic nomination race from your network.

We're not quite at half-time, but who do you think will win Ohio and Texas now?

And what about the lawsuits? Barack Obama sued to reopen some polls in Cleveland, and Hillary reportedly held a media call about suing over voter intimidation in Texas.

I'm sorry to see Mike Huckabee go. But, he just dropped out. McCain is the Republican nominee. He has at least 1191 delegates.

Huckabee will now be a uniter.