I have watched all day as the delegate count increased for Barack Obama, bringing him to the magic number by the time we were ready to sit down to dinner. Then had to run out to vote at our very local primary, then back home to watch the speeches.

First McCain…I know he can do better, and know he will. I though that he spent a lot of time focusing on the negative aspects of Obama…believe me I’m not a political strategist by any means, but thought it might be better to NOT list every issue he has that opposes Obama from the start…drag it out a bit, don’t give “the enemy” your position from the start so he knows how to respond where it hurts.

Then there was Hillary….the word “I” was the main focus of her speech, I …. I… I, it was an “all about me” speech, given with a brilliant smile, and no indication that she’s finished campaigning…there was a time that I admired her persistence, but at this point it borders on…no, it’s moved over the border to the point of ridiculous. But should it? I guess if I’d won the popular vote, and as many states as she has, I’d find it hard to give up too…we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Obama, I have to say that he gave a commanding speech…I don’t agree with all of it, and as you know I’m usually a republican voter, always have been, but am a little bit confused about what I am this election. My hubby keeps reminding me that I’m a Republican, so I’m going to just have to be happy I have him to guide me, and hope things become a lot clearer for me personally in the days to come.

So here we are…at last.

The end is finally here…sort of…at least the end of the Democratic primary campaign season.  After adding to the number of delegates that Obama and Clinton would need to FINALLY finish the ongoing democratic battle with the decision about what to do with those Michigan/Florida delegates, Obama is closer than he was before the decision to having the number of delegates needed.

Is Hillary going to concede in her speech tonight?  Will she finally realize that it’s time to stop and let the process go on?  Can she let go of her dream?  We’ll see when she makes her speech tonight.  It’s all over the media today…generally believed she will concede that Obama does have the delegates…but at least at this typing, will not give up the ongoing competition with Obama.  We’ll see…more later!

I had to laugh tonight when hubby was watching “Special Report with Brit Hume” on FOX News when Brit referred to Hillary Clinton as West Virginia’s new “Mountain Mama”…so funny! (For you youngin’s who don’t know what that’s referring to, it’s John Denver’s song “Country Roads” - the lyrics in question “West Virginia, mountain Mama, take me home, country roads” - think I got that right.)

It looks like Mountain Mama Hillary has won big in little West Virginia, the State my dear Dad was born. But I can pretty much assure you that if he were alive today, and living in WV, he wouldn’t have voted for Hillary.

There she is, it’s 1:10 am EST and she’s at the podium giving her victory speech…she’s not giving up it sounds like, even though Obama has her beat by delegates and more super delegates are getting behind him each day…now she’s begging for help. Oh there’s the plug for her website, yes, she needs money, she’s using her own to fund the campaign still I think?? She commends Obama, and states they have had “a few dust ups along the way” whatever that means. The rest is nothing new at all, yawn.

It’s almost over, only a few weeks to go until the real campaign begins…between Obama and McCain…will I eat my words? We’ll see.

When I saw the count get to within 2% points between Obama and Clinton, I had to wait out the results, Hillary squeaked out a win…but whether it was enough of a win, and with the loss in NC, what does it mean for the Hillary campaign, is it worth pressing on?  That will be the talk of the day tomorrow (oh yeh, today) and beyond.

Now I REALLY am going to bed!

It’s almost 11 pm on the east coast, I’m tired, Hillary is giving her “victory” speech even though the channel I’m on has Obama winning North Carolina, and Hillary close to winning Indiana, but it hasn’t been declared officially. “Winning” by only 4% points in Indiana.

I’m not sure I’ll make it until midnight, but it’s been a pretty good night for Obama I’d say, after all the negative press to have taken NC and be so close in Indiana.

Oh, there goes Hillary stealing Laura Bush’s speech from yesterday appealing to the Junta government to let aid in…okay, sorry, guess I shouldn’t accuse her of stealing the speech, it’s an important issue.

“Now it’s on to WV, Kentucky, Oregon and the other States” so says Hillary, and on that note, goodnight.

In reality, I’m not sure whether Barack was ever behind Hillary, and need I mention again that I feel as tired as Hillary looks at times when it comes to the ongoing battle between C & O. Boring. Still, the PA Primary is almost here, and so I have to say something about the two Dems who would be President.

Even though there has been a tremendous amount of press against him related to Pastor Wright, his performance in the debates last night, yadayadayada, many reports are still saying he is ahead and doing great! He got another endorsement from looooooooong time Clinton buddy Robert Reich, (or as Rush Limbaugh would say it “Reiccchhhhhhh”, hubby was so proud when I pronounced it like his hero, Rush would) who did a post to his blog today explaining why it took him so long to get around to making the decision…after all Reich and the Clintons have known each other and worked together on and off since the 1960’s, I believe. But Barack is his man now. Things may really be looking up for Obama, or just being made to sound like they are.

Ho-Hum….it will end soon, this too shall pass, I keep telling myself, and I hope soon!

I’ve been sitting here with the results playing in the background all evening…after hubby and I watched a movie…and the guy who inspired the blog (my husband) was snoring before all the results were in.  He pretty much had it figured out, so wasn’t interested in watching. As I type this, they haven’t called Texas yet, and there are still people waiting to Caucus, but it’s looking like Hillary had a good night tonight, taking Ohio and likely to take Texas, and of course Rhode Island, and Obama only managing to capture Vermont…I guess I shouldn’t say ONLY, he HAS taken 12 states.

The hardest part of the evening for me was watching Mike Huckabee’s concession speech. He speaks SO well, and looked a bit emotional for the first time.  I hate to see him go….but I’m going to be following him, I think we’ll be seeing him in the days to come.

Well as I say goodnight, they have just projected Hillary as the winner in Texas, and I haven’t said a lot about McCain…but we have months ahead to dig into him.

Can we put Hillary’s name in place of the ???? marks yet in the subject line?  Not yet.