SNEAK PEEK: Outsider as Frontrunner

February 12, 2008— -- Virginia was expected to be the closest of the three Potomac primaries, but with his comfortable lead over Hillary Clinton, ABC News projected as soon as the polls closed that Barack Obama had carried the Old Dominion. When the polls close in Maryland and Washington, D.C., even the Clinton campaign expects Barack Obama to emerge on top.

While Hillary Clinton continues to lead Barack Obama in superdelegates, once all delegates are accounted for from previous races plus Tuesday's "Potomac Primary," Obama is expected to find himself in the overall delegate lead making him the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

On Wednesday, Obama heads to Janesville, Wis., (hometown of uncommitted Russ Feingold) to tour G.M.'s assembly plant and to deliver a major address on restoring "economic balance and fairness."

Hoping to regain her footing, Hillary Clinton heads to Texas on Wednesday for stops in McAllen, Robstown, and San Antonio.

Texas, which along with Ohio votes on March 4th, is shaping up as a must-win for the former first lady.

Even though the press declared the GOP race over once Mitt Romney got out of the race, Mike Huckabee is hoping to keep things close with John McCain in Virginia's Tuesday primary. On Wednesday, McCain is hoping to further burnish his establishment credentials by holding a media availability with the House Republican leadership at the Capitol Hill Club.

For his part, Dr. Ron Paul heads to Georgetown University's Gaston Hall where he delivers remarks and takes questions.

New Mexico update:

The New Mexico Democratic Party is aiming to start counting provisional ballots on Wednesday.

According to a Democratic Party official in New Mexico, approximately 17,200 provisional ballots were cast in the Democratic primary.

By checking county lists, approximately 7,500 of the 17,200 have already qualified as legitimate votes.

The New Mexico Democratic Party is now checking the legitimacy of the other 10,000 provisional ballots against the statewide list (party officials are checking to see if the voter is a registered Democrat -- the primary was not open to Republicans or independents -- and they are making sure that the person is not trying to vote more than once).

President Bush honors Otis Williams at event to celebrate Black History Month. LINK

Nightline: The Chesapeake Choice
2.12.08 As ballots are being cast we talk to our political team for predictions. LINK

Bush Honors Black History Month
At event, Bush shuns recent noose displays causing 'heightened racial tension.' LINK

Music Video Mocks McCain
Election08 releases a spoof of will.i.am's pro-Obama video "Yes We Can." LINK

McCain Spoof: 'No, You Can't'
Barely Political releases anti-McCain spoof of the pro-Obama "Yes We Can" video. LINK

'View' Ladies Feel for Clinton
The panel criticizes sexism in some of N.Y. senator's media coverage. LINK

Who Are the Super Delegates?
These power-wielding DNC members could decide the presidential nominee. LINK

Primary Battle of the Potomac
Republicans and Democrats vote in another tight round of presidential primaries. LINK

Bloggers on Super Tuesday
Rich Braham talks with political bloggers Rick Klein, "McJoan" and Matt Lewis. LINK

Unconventional Wisdom: It's the Economy
Bloggers debate how the candidates handle the growing worries over the economy. LINK

Potomac Primary Preview
The next primary contests are set in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. LINK