The candidates are in the race, the gun has sounded, and already the field is narrowing. Joe Biden is no longer running for President but is getting in line to replace Condi Rice as Secretary of State, The survivors are lining up for the next lap in New Hampshire on Tuesday. The national media pundits are already annoiting Barak Obama as the likely Democratic nominee announcing that it is all over when he comes out on top in Tuesday's contest.
On the Republican side a Baptist minister is trumpeting a victory on the backs of organized and motivated Evangelical voters. The Reverend Mr. Huckabee preached a fine sermon at his victory party. It remains to be seen if the techniques and appeal will be transported from the snows of Iowa to the snows of New Hampshire. Those media pundits don't think so and are witholding his annoiting. There are not many Evangelicals worshiping at New Hampshire polling places.
After Iowa and New Hampshire comes South Carolina in the heart of the Old Confederacy. The question that will be settled there is whether Obama is "black enough" to appeal to the black voters that will be the majority voting in the Democratic primary. The question that will be left open is whether Obama is "too black" to be elected President of the United States.
