HALPERIN’S TAKE: The Candidates’ Main Advantages As We Head to Super Tuesday

(from the official time.com website)


Clinton:

1. New York, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, and Texas

2. A sustained national polling lead

3. closed primaries in which only Democrats vote

4. perceived experience

5. white, Hispanic, and low-income voters

Obama:

1. “Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton” will never sound like change

2. the media is (passionately) on his side

3. Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin, and caucus states

4. Internet money

5. a loyal, ardent, focused staff

McCain:

1. the national security card

2. the media is (cozily) on his side

3. experience

4. open primaries

5. Gov. Charlie Crist

Romney:

1. his (still vast) bank account

2. virulently anti-McCain Republicans who will champion him by default in a one-on-one race

3. the rising salience of the economic issue and his crisp CEO argument

4. talk radio

5. vigor and acute drive