South Carolina is already being “spun” to downgrade Obama’s large victory, and is being spun effectively I might add. Only 25% of the “white vote” but 80% of the “black vote” is being portrayed as Obama being “The Black Candidate” in the same way that Jackson was 20 years ago. Back then Jackson was considered an “also ran” candidate, with polling somewhere between where Kusinich was when he dropped out and Edwards; but he won South Carolina TWICE on “the black vote”. South Carolina keeps Obama in the race, but only until Super Tuesday unless by then he can broaden his appeal and he gets victories or at least strong showings in places with smaller minority populations and/or among hispanics.
Edwards is now out of it, but will hang on at least until Super Tuesday in order to keep gaining delegates, and may even officially remain in the race but with suspended campaigning (as he has done before) in an effort to have as much leverage as possible in the event the Democratic Nomination comes down to a brokered convention. If that happens… if Hillary fails to lock up the nomination with 50%+1 of the delegates, expect Edwards to put his delegates behind Hillary in exchange for either the VP slot, or a Cabinet position.
As for the Republicans…
Unless Guilianni or Huckabee pull off a miracle in Florida (Guiliani a win, Huckabee at least a strong second place), then the Republican race will come down to McCain versus Romney on Super Tuesday. A clear winner on Super Tuesday will effectively put an end to the Republican challenge. And if that clear winner would be McCain, Romney’s campaign then becomes the equivalent of Pat Robertson’s campaign… simply an effort to keep the Right Wing issues front and center in an effort to pull the front running a bit more to the Right.