The Latest from the Trail

News reports from Texas indicate that Barack Obama has pulled ahead of Hillary Clinton in the polls leading up to the state's Democratic primary on March 4.

One major Democratic 'super-delegate' stated on condition of anonymity that unless Clinton wins both Texas and Ohio on March 4 by a wide margin, her campaign is finished.

It is beginning to appear very unlikely that Clinton will win both states. Her best shot appears to be Ohio, but she may end up losing there as well.

Wisconsin's Democratic primary is this coming Tuesday, Feb. 19. This has been a very close race, but most pundits believe Obama will win the state.

It is very interesting that rather than stay in Wisconsin through Tuesday to watch as the vote comes in, Clinton is leaving the state on Monday, a day early.

On the Republican side, John McCain has begun to shore up his support among the GOP faithful and at least one former rival, Mitt Romney. Romney endorsed McCain during the week and encouraged his delegates to vote for McCain at the convention.

Former President George H.W. Bush also endorsed McCain.

But conservatives are still wary. McCain's speech before CPAC did not go quite far enough to satisfy most conservatives who form the base of the GOP.

As I have stated before, McCain is going to have to work hard for my vote. My vote does not come cheap, and I vote on the issues. I set the bar very high. I am still waiting to see what McCain does on McCain-Feingold, unfettered individual gun rights for all citizens, and illegal aliens.

McCain needs to repudiate McCain-Feingold has a big mistake. He also needs to make clear that his 'support for the Second Amendment' means individual rights for all citizens and that self-defense is an unalienable right. And he needs to make clear that illegal aliens get NO BREAKS for breaking the law. They must get in line behind everyone else coming here legally.

He has yet to be specific about any of these issues. Therefore, I am withholding my support and my vote until I hear something more than generalities that even Hillary and Osama-'Bama spout.