by El Sombreron

Created on: February 06, 2008   Last Updated: July 02, 2008

The race is on for what is best known as Super Tuesday, were voters went to the polls in 24 states around the U.S.

Who were the winners and who were those who followed closely behind?

In this race, out of the 24, three states stand out as the most important factors and prospective "voter- deliverers" for this years' presidential elections: New York, New Jersey and California. Forcing a victory in one of these three places will provide a vast array of support for either one of the presidential candidates.

Republicans

For the Republican race, several of the major contestants are awaiting crucial victories in Republican- based states.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, fresh after winning the South Carolina and Florida primaries, is expecting to remain victorious in his home state, along with Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and the big piece, California.

McCain, according to CNN projections, is expected to be the front- runner after piling up victories all across the nation. He is now estimated to have half of the delegates he needs to win his party's nomination, and more than Romney and Huckabee combined.

On the other hand, Huckabee and his grand evangelical support, could grant victories to him and his party in Southern and Midwestern regions were there is a big protestant congregation.

These regions include: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia. Huckabee strongly reiterates his position as the most conservative candidate which could open some victories in the uncertain southern states.

Romney, trailing behind in the Republican race, is expected to see prospective victories in Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, Utah and North Dakota.

Democrats

The Democratic race is still very much in duel between the most popular candidates, Obama of Illinois and Senator Clinton of New York. Both agreed to continue campaigning well beyond the February 5 hotspots.

Obama, who won the first caucuses in Iowa, trails behind Clinton in every contest until last week's South Carolina primaries. As a positive affirm of trust, Obama received positive endorsement of the Los Angeles Times, one of the most important and largest newspapers in the country.

Clinton on the other hand, scored major victories in New Hampshire and Nevada.

John Edwards, who left the competition, not so long ago, could affect the final outcomes of the democratic race by demonstrating his support to either Clinton or Obama.

Based on the number of congressional districts won, Clinton leads Obama 825-732 overall.

Projection- wise, Barack Obama is expected to win in Illinois, Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Utah.

Clinton is expected to win in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, American Samoa and New York, were she has already won, thus scoring an important victory for her and her party.

The projections continue and so do the polls in Louisiana and Washington on Saturday, followed by polls in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. next Tuesday. Keep checking back for more results.

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