Why must Clinton supporters be spiteful? Hong Kong has the world's freest economy for two decades - as judged by the Heritage Foundation - yet sweeping stereotypes such as "commitment to the free markets... is equivalent to zero" appear to be uncomfortably widespread! If Clinton wants to be pictured as the 'pragmatic' candidate, including her supporters, facts must be told straight and uninterpreted or twisted to suit one's personal agenda. That is how you restore trust with the electorate, and that is what Hillary needs to do more of if she wants to clinch the Democrat nomination and beat McCain.

James Wong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

I am a conservative Republican disgusted with George Bush and dissatisified with the politics of John McCain. I have listened to Senator Obama, read his books, viewed his voting record and find him to be intelligent, honest, refreshing and perhaps one of the greatest public speakers of our generation. I think he can and will do great things for my country. Therefore I and my wife intend to cross party lines for the first time in thirty years to vote for and support a Democrat, Barack Obama for President of the United States. I will not support Hillary Clinton or her ilk.

Craig Houghton, Issaquah, WA, USA

I'm a 65 year old Republican, but with Romney gone, I am giving serious consideration to a Democratic candidate. If I can put aside the morally disturbing issues that divide the DNC from the GOP, it becomes a choice to pick someone I could trust 1) to do the right thing, and to 2) learn quickly in a constantly changing and challenging job. At my age I know tht experience is great, but despiter her "experience" I wouldn't trust Hillary to do the right things, or to be humble enough or young enough of mind to learn quickly. She would have to turn to Bill as a surrogate president.
No, Obama has all the integrity, and willingness to listen and learn from others besides Bill, that I would need to switch over

RobertMD900, Phoenix, AZ

Lets get this straight, no one has experience for the job of president. Its a bit like on-the-job training. Only a former state governor can claim to have had a similar, note similar, sort of experience. However, no state governor has experience of foreign policy. In this respect, democratic and republican candidates are evenly matched. McCains stint has senator does not qualify him as foreign policy expert any more than it does Clinton or Obama.

Indeed, as someone has said, this is history in the making.

John Taylor, London,

Why should Americans care about how non-Americans feel towards a US Presidential candidate when the interests of the US are not exactly in line with the interests of most countries?

That is the irony of it all when people from places like Hong Kong, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia who do not appreciate the values of democracy and the free markets open their mouth and root for a US Presidential candidate whose commitment to the free markets and free enteprise is equivalent to zero

Jose Vilarba de Quirzo, Barrington, IL

My guess is that an Obama presidency would restore a good deal of trust in America, perhaps even a sense of optimism that divisions can be tackled through engagement rather than aggression. He looks like the President the world wants and America needs.

Phil, Hong Kong,

I used to think like you James Wilson, but the president does have a profound effect on so many things. Nobody can say that George Bush didn't change a whole lot of things in the US and globally. And the reason everyone is so fired up about this contest is because one man changed so much and so many are horrified by it.

eselia, alicante, spain

The thought of Billary as "leader of the free world" is worrying, but does Obama have enough experience for the job....?

Gerry Watts, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Obama 2008!

A strong, decisive leader with a cool head and a willingness to 'do the dirty work' (who else out of these candidates spent years voluntarily on such a low-paying job as Obama, when he was offered prestigious positions?) He's the clear leader and will be a wonderful President

AnneMarie, Texas,

Red flags and blue flags it doesnt matter who the president is
life goes on. I dont think the average American will notice much difference. Poltics is like banks on the high street offering slightly higher interest rates but the establishment goes on.

James Wilson, Aberdeen, Scotland

I'm scared too. Scared that a party machine that rewards time served and ignores voters will hand it to Hillary. Scared that dynastic politics will turn off voters for a generation. Scared that a candidate whose best feature is her ability to get the opposing vote out not her own will be the candidate. Scared that McCain will win by default.

Who on earth would reject a candidate who can win vs a candidate who hasn't and can't

Al, Soton, UK

Obama is in a very tight moment right now that will either put him in the play for Ohio or he will be set back once again in a New Hampshire-like disappointment.

If he is to look inevitable he must win Virginia. If he can win Virginia he can win Ohio. He will have to spend money and time in Ohio. He will need a rally in the four major Ohio cities.

Ohio will be important in the general. He might as well do the groundwork. If he wins Ohio, he wins the nomination. Obama must split the Texas-Ohio two step in order to take Hillary's breath away.

Obama is proving to be a political phenom. It seems as if people in the closing of the deal seem to believe that to support Obama is to be on the right side of history. A year from now I think it will be a point of personal historical pride to be able to take credit for Obama winning the nomination.

People are voting in record numbers. This is the most significant election in modern American politics. Welcome to history!

Sean, Chattanooga, 37411

One of the reasons Obama is doing so well is that he gets a lot of his support from young people who have never been engaged in the process before; and only someone who fits that description can believe that Obama, or anyone else, can "change" Washington the way he's promising to do. No one can "change" Washington the way he's promising to do; and he knows it. His supporters don't.

I'm scared, too, Emily. I'm scared we're going to nominate a political child as the Democratic candidate. I'm scared because, when style and substance separate, many people will go with style. I'm scared because Obama's naivete would hopelessly compromise our national security.

I haven't felt anguish like this for our future since I can remember. That may sound like hyperbole; and it may not make much of an impression, coming from a nameless, faceless voice on a blogsite. But it sounds like I'm not the only one.

Mike Frazier, Fayetteville, Arkansas

well, said rita. Billary put the crown down

teopa, GR,

And don't forget the states whose primaries don't even count. Florida and Michigan were punished by the Democratic National Committee for moving their primary dates up. They still held the primary, but their delegates won't count at the convention.
Lots of different delegate totals, yes. Confusing, yes. Important, YES! There is just not sure way to calculate those delegate totals right now. It's neck and neck. Clinton and Obama will duke it out all the way to the National Convention. Let's not jump the gun, and let's REALLY not get wrapped up in the specifics of the delegate total right now. The numbers will most certainly change. This could be the tightest race for the Democratic nomination of all time. It's going to be a LONG time before the numbers will declare a winner.

More:
http://clearblogs.com/emilycarlson/
http://emilyannecarlson.tblog.com/
http://eacarlson3.bravejournal.com/

Emily Carlson, edina, united states, mn

Obama is not light on policy, but rather successfully flatlines Hillary's paragraph speaking of every jot and tittle of her policy ideas, with his own broader strokes of the same without putting the class to sleep. Her overachiever style establishes her wonkiness, but one more wonk is not a shoe in for leadership. If there were not a bell to ring in these debates, she would still be yaking. Make her someone's damn chief of staff and let her wonk away, but get out of the way of the clear leader.

Rita, Oklahoma City,