Super Seven Primary States Hold the Key

[Freddie Stubbs]

There is life in politics after New Hampshire and Iowa.

Democratic presidential hopefuls who survive those two early presidential contests in January will face a daunting seven-state challenge in three time zones: the Feb. 3 primaries.

No candidate has an insurmountable edge in the Super Seven states - Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina. And the picture isn't likely to become clearer until Jan. 19 in Iowa and Jan. 27 in New Hampshire, when voters will separate front-runners from also-rans with the field's first shakeout.

Political observers and Democratic strategists say they expect Feb. 3 voting to winnow the field even further - perhaps to two or three major candidates - while awarding more than 10 percent of the 2,159 delegates needed for nomination.

more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-elect/2003/dec/03/120302693.html