Waiting for the Exit Polls: Primary on the Potomac

The so-called Potomac Primary is tomorrow and if I can wipe the sleep out of my eyes and stand the sleet and freezing rain will trudge down to the firehouse before braving the Beltway so that I can get to work. Otherwise, it will be off to the polls after work with a hungry belly, a thirst for a beer, and a desire to knock the wife around a bit. Sounds like just the demographic of a Clinton supporter. I’ve even got hairy knuckles and holes in my shoes.

It should be exciting, though Maryland, like the rest of the primaries tomorrow, won’t have a lot of drama unless Obama happens to lose one of the states. The only real drama left has to do with states like Ohio and Texas in March and Pennsylvania in April where HC is the odds on favorite to win. And, of course, what will happen if the two are essentially deadlocked come April. If Obama can take these later states the nomination is as good as his; if not, he, HC, and about 800 of their best (superdelegate) friends will have some real fun.

One other thing will be as inevitable as death and taxes tomorrow: The media will squawk and belch about momentum, firebreaks, how many states Obama has won; and Clinton swimming upstream. Just the latest narrative being breathlessly pushed by talking heads and scribblers whose paychecks are probably paid by People Magazine. And if Clinton wins, beginning in March? They will shamelessly say they knew this would happen all along; HC, the comeback kid (recycling a previous narrative); the Clinton machine was certain to grind Obama into the ground; caucuses are meaningless because only party activists and people who don’t work attend them; long live the Queen.

As for me, I'll be waiting for the exit polls.