Having pulled his name from the Democratic primary ballot in Michigan, Barack Obama is moving his focus, as well as his campaign money to South Carolina and Florida, after watching his short-lived momentum stall in New Hampshire. The only top-tier candidate's name that will be on the Michigan Democratic ballot will be Hillary Clinton as John Edwards and Bill Richardson also had their names kept off the ballot.
Obama rode into New Hampshire on a wave of enthusiasm following his win in the Iowa Democratic caucus with many pundits predicting a large win for his there as well. Hillary Clinton however, was able to edge him out in the election and holds a wide margin in Michigan with 49 percent of the expected Democrat voters showing support for her candidacy, according to results posted at usaelectionpolls.com.
Obama could get a boost from this process however, as a group of Michigan supporters is pushing the idea for voters to cast a ballot of "undecided" in the primary if their candidate of choice is not on the ballot. The National Democratic Party stripped 156 delegates from the party in retribution for the state holding its election before February 5. Should the party later decide to reinstate these undecided delegates, if many are Obama supporters, could give him the extra delegates needed for the nomination.
The South Carolina primary is the first Southern contest of the 2008 primary calendar.
Obama is leading the current polls in South Carolina with 40 percent, ahead of Clinton's 33 percent and John Edwards' 15 percent. He is also running a close second to Clinton in Nevada and Florida, which also hold their elections in January.
