Obama Faces Pressure in Tuesday's Vote

The only difference came in the polls. Obama's campaign started to lose ground vs. both Clinton and McCain in the two upcoming primaries and national polls. Sunday's USA Today/Gallup poll showed Obama's 10-point lead from last month with Democrats and independent voters had evaporated, turning into a seven-point edge for Clinton. Thus, one conclusion about Obama's decision to disown his pastor is that it appears blatantly political. Rev. Wright definitively hurt Obama with whites.

Now it will be interesting to see if Obama's rejection of his pastor will hurt his support among African Americans as well. African Americans have overwhelmingly supported him by about 9 to 1 in most primaries. Because of the large African American make up of Democratic primary voters, North Carolina has long been a firewall state for Obama.

Several media reports typify Obama as feeling the pressure of media scrutiny over his disavowal of Rev. Wright. Mayhill Flower, the reporter who broke "Bitter-gate," followed him on the campaign trail and noted how he seemed not to know where he was. Obama joked about it, and most of the media failed to comment on it.

Clinton, on the other hand, appears energized. She has been consistently touting her plan to help the middle class by offering a gas tax cut, which would be paid for by taxing big oil companies. Clinton's chances have also improved with those who speculate on political futures at Intrade.com. In April, her chances to win the Democratic nomination had traded down to below 10, or a 10% chance to win. After Pennsylvania, her contract more than doubled. It closed as high as 29, and it presently trades in the low 20s.