| Among the more than 20 states holding primaries or | | | | This is likely to be a boost for McCain who is favored |
| caucuses on Tuesday, New York and New Jersey, in | | | | in these states. |
| the northeastern United States have large numbers of | | | | Voters in the northeast, as elsewhere in the nation, are |
| delegates the candidates need to win their party | | | | concerned about the economy, healthcare, education |
| nominations. VOA's Margaret Besheer reports from | | | | and the war in Iraq. The war on terror is especially on |
| our New York bureau, on what to watch for on Super | | | | the minds of voters in New York and New Jersey, |
| Tuesday. | | | | which were deeply affected by the September 11, |
| Republican and Democratic voters will hit the polls | | | | 2001, terrorist attacks. |
| Tuesday in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and | | | | Analysts expect near-record turnout for Super |
| Massachusetts. But New York and New Jersey, with | | | | Tuesday. Professor Sharyn O'Halloran, also of |
| their 339 Democratic delegates and 153 Republican | | | | Columbia University's political science department, says |
| delegates at stake, are the prime focus of the | | | | voters are very energized because this is the first time |
| candidates and political observers. | | | | a woman and an African American have a real |
| Maurice Carroll, the director of Quinnipiac University's | | | | chance at the presidency. |
| Polling Institute in Hamden, Connecticut has been | | | | "That is the historic thing here that we finally have |
| tracking the candidates. He says until about a week | | | | serious contention from a woman and an African |
| ago, Democratic Party candidate Senator Hillary | | | | American in a major political party in the race for the |
| Clinton, who represents New York State, was solidly | | | | presidency. Either way you go, the 2008 election is |
| ahead of rival Senator Barack Obama in polls. But he | | | | going to be a historic election," said O'Halloran. |
| notes that Obama's numbers have been on the rise. | | | | In the northeast on Tuesday, Senator Clinton is |
| "There is a lot of excitement, a lot of surge, going for | | | | expected to do well among women voters and |
| Obama, mostly among young people. Can that | | | | Hispanics, but could lose some of her African |
| overcome those [Clinton's] New York and New Jersey | | | | American supporters to Senator Obama. Professor |
| leads? [It is] hard to say. Look what happened in Iowa | | | | Shapiro says other non-white voters in this region |
| a couple of weeks ago, out of nowhere Obama came | | | | could have a significant impact. |
| out and won the thing," said Carroll. | | | | "The one interesting thing to watch in this region would |
| On the Republican side, Senator John McCain is very | | | | be how other non-white voting groups vote - Latinos, |
| strong in the northeast, leading former Massachusetts | | | | Asian- Americans - in this region. Especially if it is close |
| Governor Mitt Romney and former Arkansas | | | | those groups could conceivably be swing voters," |
| Governor Mike Huckabee. Columbia University Political | | | | added Shapiro. |
| Science professor Robert Shapiro predicts McCain | | | | While excitement is high in this region for the current |
| could all but win the Republican nomination on Super | | | | contenders, there remains one question lingering on the |
| Tuesday. | | | | minds of many, especially in New York, and that is |
| "It looks as though McCain is poised to pull away and | | | | whether the city's mayor, billionaire businessman |
| perhaps wrap things up on February 5. His recent wins | | | | Michael Bloomberg, will launch a late bid for the |
| have been very impressive," said Shapiro. | | | | presidency as an independent candidate. |
| McCain's strong position received a boost last week | | | | "Political history says no, the political landscape says no, |
| when former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani | | | | the American political system says no, but a billion |
| withdrew from the race and endorsed the Arizona | | | | dollars says yes, he has got a shot," said Maurice |
| senator. | | | | Carroll of Quinnipiac University. |
| For the Republican candidates on the ballot in New | | | | Analysts say Bloomberg is likely to get into the race |
| York, New Jersey and Connecticut, it is "winner take | | | | only if he thinks he can win it, not to be a spoiler for |
| all", meaning the candidate with the largest percentage | | | | one of the other candidates. But until that happens, all |
| of the vote will win all the state's republican delegates. | | | | eyes are on the current contenders. |