February 26

Kerry's victories last night in Utah, Idaho and Hawaii have consolidated his grip on the delegate count.

They've also - as if it wasn't already true - made next Tuesday's contests seem even more like the final stand for John Edwards. While the Carolinian appeared initially to be running well in Georgia, if he dosen't win one of either Ohio, California or New York, any realistic hope he might have of overhauling Kerry will pretty much evaporate.

That's why tonight's debate in Los Angeles might be crucial. Edwards might be ready to surrender part of his nice-guy image in order to be more confrontational in outlining the differences between himself and Kerry.

The front-runner, meanwhile, picked up the endorsement of Ohio's influential former senator and astronaut John Glenn.

Ohio looks to be a key state for whoever wins the nomination. It could be the difference between a southern strategy and a midwest strategy; particularly with it being far from certain that the southern states would abandon President Bush despite feeling the economic pinch.