Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry almost completed a clean sweep yesterday, winning nine of 10 Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses by large margins in many states, prompting reports that North Carolina Sen. John Edwards would soon quit the race.
Kerry, having effectively captured the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, directed stern words at the Bush administration at a victory party in Washington.
"Tonight the message could not be clearer all across our country: Change is coming to America," Kerry said. "We have no illusions about the Republican attack machine and what our opponents have done in the past and what they may try to do in the future. But I know that together, we are equal to this task. I am a fighter."
Edwards, however, had vowed to stay in the race even if he failed to win a state on Super Tuesday, but campaign sources said that he would announce his withdrawal Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.
Tuesday night, the one-term senator delivered a rousing speech in Atlanta that continued his populist themes of optimism and offered praise for both his campaign workers and Kerry, but did not formally announce his withdrawal. Edwards is seen as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kerry, who is now assured the Democratic nomination for president.
"We were the little engine that could, and I'm proud of what we accomplished together," Edwards said.
Kerry showed widespread strength across the country, winning by large margins in the northeast, California, Minnesota and Ohio. Edwards lost Georgia, a state where his campaign had invested much time and money and one that borders his birthplace of South Carolina.
Although former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean dropped out of the race two weeks ago, his home state still voted for him, giving the former frontrunner his first victory. The Edwards campaign didn't even put his name on the ballot in Vermont, as it was decided to cede the state months ago to the once-formidable Dean.
All 10 Super Tuesday states apportion their delegates according to the percentage of the vote candidates win, and as such, final numbers of delegates won are not finalized. The 1,151 delegates at stake yesterday are more than half the 2,161 needed to win nomination at the Democratic National Convention this summer in Boston.
Associated Press exit polls showed that the economy and the ability to defeat President Bush remain Democrats' primary concerns.
Government professor Richard Winters said that last night's results should alarm President Bush's reelection committee. He said that the high amount of Democratic voters who are not just angry but "very angry" over Bush's job performance shows the deep well of discontent that may breed increase contributions, energy, and workers for the Democratic Party.
"There ought to be a lot of anxiety at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," Winters said.
Frontrunner Kerry also showed strong support among the heavily Democratic black community, long a base of support for the party, by a factor of three-to-one over Edwards. Winters said he was struck by Kerry's ability to energize this important Democratic constituency.
But Winters also praised Edwards' performance. Winters said that Edwards "took slender credentials and went the longest way with them," a testament to focus and energy.
Edwards' recent attempts to differentiate himself and Kerry with respect to trade and the economy seemed to not work. For instance, states with high manufacturing job losses, such as New York and Ohio, where Edwards focused his attention, voted strongly for Kerry.
Exit polls also shed some light on what may be an explosive issue in the general election: gay marriage. Democratic opinion on the issue varies widely across the country, with about half of California Democrats supporting gay marriage, compared to only one in six Georgia Democrats.
