For Ohio and Texas: Waiting Paid Off

As late as summer of last year, both Ohio and Texas considered moving their primaries up to Super Tuesday. Now they are so glad they didn't. During this nominating season, only Iowa and New Hampshire (and possibly South Carolina) will have more time and money lavished on them by the candidates of both parties. Democrats Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton will likely shoot their wads on those two states, knowing that a good performance will almost guarantee an instant replenishment of their funds. Also, expect Republicans John McCain and Mike Huckabee to spend most of their time and money on those two states over the next two weeks as well, despite the fact that it is now a foregone conclusion that McCain will be the nominee.

None of the Super Tuesday states -- not even California and New York -- could attract this kind of attention, due to competition with 20+ other other states. Ohio and Texas are competing only with each other and the relatively tiny states of Vermont and Rhode Island, which will probably get little or no attention from the candidates.