Romney, Clinton win Nevada (and Michigan)

Yuck. I was hoping for a repeat of Iowa, but it wasn't meant to be. Hillary adequately beat Obama, and Romney destroyed his opponents (Ron Paul came in second)! But I don't think this means too much -- there have been now three different GOP winners in four contested primaries (Iowa, NH, Michigan, and now Nevada), so there is no clear front-runner. And Hillary has only beat Obama twice in the three contested Democratic primaries (Obama and Edwards were not on the MI ballot). In addition, both Obama and Edwards beat Clinton in Iowa. So basically, all this means is that nothing is for sure. South Carolina only added to the utter confusion for the GOP and the SC Democrat primary is not until next week, so there is still some time for Clinton, Obama, and Edwards to recoup.

So here's the story on Nevada...

VOA News...

Hillary Clinton has won the Nevada Democratic Party caucuses, after a hard-fought campaign against Senator Barack Obama and former Senator John Edwards...Mitt Romney easily won the Republican race in the state.

This is New York Senator Clinton's second win in Democratic Party preference contests, after a victory in the New Hampshire primary January 8.

Senator Obama, who was backed by a strong local labor union, came in second and former senator Edwards came in a distant third.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney campaigned heavily in Nevada and gained an easy win in Republican caucuses over Arizona senator John McCain and Texas congressman Ron Paul. Romney said the people of Nevada had cast their vote for change, and this victory is important. "It's huge for us, and we're very, very pleased," he said.

Michelle Romero, a bellhop at the Las Vegas Hilton, took part in a Democratic caucus held in a casino, and spoke of the issues that concern her. "The economy, our jobs, schools and our family," she said.

Both winning candidates say the economy will be an important issue in the national campaign. Democrats will hold their next primary Saturday in South Carolina, and Republicans are focusing on the Florida primary three days later. Both parties are looking ahead to Super Tuesday, when more than 20 states will hold primaries and caucuses.

LINK: Romney, Clinton Projected to Win Nevada Caucuses

And here's the scoop on Michigan from FOXNews...

... With 100 percent of the voting in, Romney earned 39 percent of the vote over McCain with 30 percent. Mike Huckabee had 16 percent while Ron Paul polled at 6 percent. Fred Thompson had 4 percent and Rudy Giuliani was at 3 percent.

“Tonight proves you can’t tell an American there’s something they just can’t do because Americans can do whatever they set their hearts on, and tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism,” Romney said to a raucous crowd of supporters in Southfield, Mich. “The lobbyists and the politicians realize that America now understands that Washington is broken and we’re going to do something about it.”

Democratic delegates are not being seated at the national convention and most of the party’s candidates withdrew from the Michigan race, leaving Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel the only active contenders on that ballot.

With 100 percent of precincts in, Clinton had won 55 percent compared to 40 percent for “uncommitted,” 4 percent for Kucinich and less than 1 percent for Gravel.

The win put Romney in a strong position heading into Saturday’s South Carolina primary, Florida’s primary on Jan. 29 and Super Tuesday on Feb. 5.

More...

LINK: Romney, Clinton Win Michigan Presidential Primary

To quote John Edwards -- "...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...".

-Mr. Joseph