Sen. Clinton is now making it clear that even if she loses the two big states tonight, she's in it, and she has no intention of dropping out. Maybe it's bluster, but probably not.
Clinton appears to be ahead of Barack Obama in Ohio, and neck and neck in Texas. Some 370 delegates are at stake tonight, and, with Obama ahead by 110 delegates and with candidates getting delegates according to the percentage of the raw vote numbers, Clinton could lose and still be close.
All of which is making a certain Senator from Arizona smile just a bit. The McCain camp, despite the ongoing campaign of Mike Huckabee (one pundit suggested that he's still in it because he likes flying around in the plane and giving speeches), can only hope that the Democrats keep mud wrestling -- all the way up to their convention in Denver next August.
McCain may be struggling to deal with a lack of money between now and his party's convention in September in Minneapolis, but he will be the big winner in an ongoing slugfest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. There are some Democrats who argue that the battle is not good for the party, and will ultimately lead to the Democrats once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
We'll see. For now, it's the mini-Super Tuesday, and we have two reporters covering it tonight at 11. Our political reporter Dave Evans is in Columbus, Ohio with the Clinton campaign. And Sandra Bookman is covering Obama, from Houston, Texas.
We're also following developments in the Middle East, where peace seems to be the last thing on the minds of Israelis and Palestinians.
Israeli tanks and helicopters have clashed with militants in Gaza, this in retaliation for nearly a dozen rocket attacks by Hamas into Israeli territory.
There are some in Israel who are putting pressure on the government to fully invade Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has, wisely many believe, held off, fearing a huge death toll and the end of peace prospects for a long time.
Secretary of State Rice is in the region and she's urging both sides to stop fighting and return to negotiations.
We'll have the latest, tonight at 11.
Also at 11, we're just getting word that the former executive director of Bellevue Hospital has been indicted for taking bribes. Thousands of dollars in bribes. The investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney began as a result of a tip from a Bellevue hospital employee. The former executive, if convicted, could face 15 years in prison.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast, and Scott Clark with the night's sports. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa (in for Liz Cho) and me, tonight at 11.
BILL RITTER
