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