Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
February 12, 2008

US Presidential Contenders Focus on Mid-Atlantic Primaries
----------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B3A352:A6F02AD83191E160EA3598AD0EC33B68B3350E090FE6A6E8& Heavy voter turnout
expected Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC A heavy
voter turnout is expected Tuesday in the next phase of the U.S.
presidential election campaign. Nominating primaries are being held in
Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. VOA National correspondent Jim
Malone has a report.







Kristina Daugirclas casts her vote in the District of Columbia's
primary at Oyster Elementary School, 12 Feb 2008Lengthy lines were
reported at some polling stations, and interest was running high in
the Democratic presidential nomination race between Senators Hillary
Clinton and Barack Obama.

Obama was looking to build momentum after a series of recent victories
as he rallied supporters at the University of Maryland on the eve of
the primaries.

"We cannot wait to stop global warming," he said. "We cannot wait to
bring this war in Iraq to a close. We cannot wait to fix this
country."







Barack Obama shakes hands during a get out the vote visit to the
Eastern Market Metro Station in Washington, DC, 12 Feb 2008Public
opinion polls give Obama the edge in Maryland, Virginia and the
District of Columbia, thanks in part to strong support from
African-American voters.

Clinton also campaigned in Maryland and promised to battle Obama for
votes in all three races. But Clinton made clear that she is looking
ahead to March 4 when Texas and Ohio hold primaries - states where the
polls say she has a lead.

"I am absolutely looking to Ohio and Texas because we know that those
are states that represent the broad electorate in this country," she
said. "They represent the kind of voters that are going to have to be
convinced and won over in the general election."







Hillary Rodham Clinton laughs as she is introduced prior to her
lecture at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, 11 Feb
2008Clinton and Obama are roughly tied in the delegate count. The
Associated Press estimates both candidates have more than 1,000
delegates each. It takes 2,025 delegates to win the Democratic
nomination.

Momentum has swung in Obama's favor after five straight victories over
the weekend. Clinton responded by replacing her campaign manager and
vowing to raise more money.

In the Republican presidential race, Senator John McCain of Arizona is
looking to solidify his hold on his party's nomination with victories
in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

McCain has a huge lead in the delegate count over former Arkansas
governor Mike Huckabee, who remains in the race along with Texas
Congressman Ron Paul.

Huckabee beat McCain in two of three Republican contests over the
weekend and hopes to surprise McCain in Virginia with the support of
conservative Christian voters.

Huckabee so far has ignored calls from McCain supporters to quit the
race and unite the party.

"To say that it is bad for the party for us to have a debate, that it
is bad for the party for us to have an election? My gosh, I really
would like to think that it is good for the party for us to talk about
it," he said.







Sen. John McCain laughs as he is introduced at a rally at the Virginia
Aviation Museum in Richmond, Virginia, 11 Feb 2008McCain says he is
focused on winning delegates and bringing together the various
factions of the Republican Party in time for the general election
campaign against the eventual Democratic presidential nominee.

"I respect Governor Huckabee and have always admired his principles
and campaign," he said. "I have said that we have a lot of work to do
to unite the party."

McCain has won some potentially key endorsements in recent days
including that of former Florida governor Jeb Bush in hopes of
strengthening his support among conservative Republicans.

After the Mid-Atlantic primaries, the focus will turn to Wisconsin
next Tuesday where both parties hold a primary, and Hawaii, which will
hold a Democratic caucus.




.