SNEAK PEEK: Super(califragilisticexpialidocious) Tuesday

February 4, 2008— -- 1 days until Super Tuesday

Rest up tonight, because Super Tuesday is most certainly going to be a late night.

Twenty-four states, four time zones and a whole lot of delegates at stake.

On the Democratic side: 22 states voting and 1681 delegates at stake. A candidate needs 2025 to win the nomination.

On the Republican side: 21 states voting and 1038 delegates at stake. A candidate needs 1191 to win the nomination.

A few things to put on Post-it notes and stick on your computer monitor:

-- There are no horse race numbers from exit polling until after polls have closed.

-- In 10 out of 21 states, Republicans award all of the delegates to the statewide winner.

-- There are no winner take all states on the Democratic side. So while there are 370 Democratic delegates at stake in California, they will be divided up between the candidates.

-- The first results will come from the West Virginia Republican convention. Georgia polls close first at 7 pm ET and Alaska finishes the night at 12 am ET.

Here are the top five states to watch:

California:

Democratic primary – open (independents can vote)

Polls open: 10 a.m. ET;

Polls close: 11 p.m. ET

370 delegates at stake, awarded proportionally

Republican primary – closed (independents cannot vote)

Polls open: 10 a.m. ET;

Polls close: 11 p.m. ET;

170 delegates at stake, awarded via congressional district and winner take all

The nation's most populous state also sends the most delegates to both parties' conventions. California is a nation unto itself, with broad racial and ethnic diversity, and this is the one state that could provide the biggest boost of momentum moving forward.

On the Democratic side, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has been surging in polls despite the wide lead New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has long held. The Golden State will test the depth of Clinton's support among Latino voters, and both candidates' appeal to independents, who can vote in the Democratic primary but not the Republican one. It could also give an indication of the value of the Kennedy name in backing Obama; California first lady Maria Shriver joined cousin Caroline and uncle Ted in supporting Obama, and plenty of Kennedys have been working the state hard.

Among the Republicans, this is one of the few states that awards delegates based on congressional districts. Knowing that he can't afford a wipeout in the biggest state to vote, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made California a late priority, and he hopes the Republican-only makeup of the primary electorate will give him a boost over Arizona Sen. John McCain. The latest polls show conflicting results, leaving the state up for grabs.

Missouri

Democratic primary – open

Polls open: 7 a.m. ET;

Polls close: 8 p.m. ET;

72 delegates at stake, proportional

Republican primary – open

Polls open: 7 a.m. ET;

Polls close: 8 p.m. ET;

58 delegates at stake, winner take all

The classic bellwether state is wide open on both sides, with key elected leaders supporting all four major candidates. Big coastal states are voting Tuesday, but this is the big prize of the Midwest.

For the Democrats, the state is a test of Obama's red-state appeal. Sen. Claire McCaskill has been outspoken in voicing concerns that Clinton would hurt other Democratic candidates this fall, and Obama is hoping his appeal to independents and Republicans gives him an edge over Clinton despite some of her structural advantages, through labor unions and the help of former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

On the Republican side, McCain is banking on a big turnout from independents, and for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to siphon votes from Romney among social conservatives. Romney boasts of the endorsements of Gov. Matt Blunt and former Sen. Jim Talent, who is working the state hard for Romney.