Ohio and Texas now loom as must-win states for the Clinton campaign as Obama's momentum appeared to surge into the Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries, which brought him his 10th consecutive win. Obama took 58% of the vote in Wisconsin to Clinton's 41% and 76% in Hawaii to Clinton's 24%. Obama now has a nearly 100 delegate lead (Obama 1355, Clinton 1261).
The NYT reports: “Mrs. Clinton wasted no time in signaling that she would now take a tougher line against Mr. Obama — a recognition, her advisers said, that she must act to alter the course of the campaign and define Mr. Obama on her terms. In a speech in Ohio shortly after the polls closed in Wisconsin, she alluded to what her campaign considers Mr. Obama's lack of experience, and his support for a health insurance plan that would not initially seek to cover all Americans. ‘This is the choice we face: One of us is ready to be commander in chief in a dangerous world,' Mrs. Clinton said in the remarks, which she also planned to expand upon in a speech in New York City on Wednesday. ‘One of us has faced serious Republican opposition in the past — and one of us is ready to do it again.' Mrs. Clinton did not mention the Wisconsin results; she did, however, call Mr. Obama to congratulate him on the victory.”
Above, Obama's remarks following his win in Wisconsin. Below, Clinton addresses her supporters after the Wisconsin defeat. Below, right, John McCain takes Wisconsin. McCain took 55% of the vote in Wisconsin, over Mike Huckabee's 37%.
Detailed primary results for Wisconsin here.
Detailed Hawaii results here.
According to a Reuters/Zogby poll released today, Obama has opened up a 14-point lead over Clinton among national voters.
(clips courtest talking points memo)