Opinion: Barack Obama wants to make it a fight in Ohio

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In what can only be a signal that the Barack Obama campaign is ceding nothing to Hillary Rodham Clinton, it has sent Paul Tewes -- he led Obama’s successful Iowa fight -- to Ohio to try to play catch up. And why not? Obama’s been on a winning streak that could continue tonight when the results are in from the Potomac Primaries (you know, if you type ‘Potomac’ real fast, sometimes it comes out ‘ptomaine’).

The thinking -- and the polls -- suggest that Obama will do well today, and next week in Hawaii, where he is something of a native son, and possibly in Wisconsin with its long tradition of populist politics. Then, on March 4, it will be Clinton’s turn in Ohio, heavy on older and lunch-bucket Democrats, and in Texas, with a large Latino population, among whom she draws extremely well.

But if Obama steals a win in either or both of those big-delegate states, we could see a reordering of the nomination fight, with Obama moving beyond his base of young, upper-income and African American voters and into Clinton-land. If she wins them both, as expected, then the marathon continues unchanged.

But the chance to upset the apple cart is plenty of incentive for Obama to put some hitters on the ground in Ohio.

-- Scott Martelle