5/13/08

current event
title:Clinton focuses on West Virginia; Obama, on future
who: Hillary Clinton
What:The outcome of West Virginia's primary Tuesday may best be foretold by where Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama plan to spend the day.
when:5/13/08
where:WASHINGTON
why:Clinton is expected to be in Charleston, West Virginia, to celebrate what should be her large victory.
Obama has no plans Tuesday night, but he is spending the late afternoon at a campaign event in Missouri. That state has already voted this primary season but is considered a swing state that Democrats and Republicans have in their sights this November.
Clinton, it seems, is concentrating on the present; Obama is looking to the future.
Polling places in West Virginia opened at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Clinton, from New York, is ahead in West Virginia by an average of 40 points in the most recent public opinion polls.
how:The small state, with a large population of older voters and blue-collar workers, a dearth of upscale voters and a tiny African-American population, appears to be a perfect demographic fit for Clinton.
But even a landslide victory in West Virginia, which has 28 delegates, may be too little too late to keep Clinton realistically in the hunt for the Democratic presidential nomination. She trails Obama, from Illinois, in delegates won, states won and the popular vote so far this primary season. Clinton also now trails Obama when it comes to the support of superdelegates, and her campaign is $20 million in the red.