MY POINT IS: The race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack H. Obama, the two U.S. Democratic presidential hopefuls, has become a white-hot marathon

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It is being dubbed as one of the most effusive presidential primaries in a long time and one that will surely go down in political chronicles. U.S. Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack H. Obama have gone toe-to-toe for four grueling months since the primaries began at the Iowa caucus on January 3, with no quarter asked or given. The most recent results of the Pennsylvania primary on April 23, however, again failed to provide the knock out punch for either camp and left both candidates with much work still to do.

Although Clinton won an unprecedented victory by taking 55 percent of the vote to 45 percent for Obama, she still lagged behind in terms of total delegate votes. Delegates will vote at the Democratic National Convention in August to decide the party's presidential nominee. The victory in Pennsylvania cannot reverse Clinton's downward spiral but has kept her in the race for the time being. "Some counted me out and said drop out," Clinton told cheering supporters. "But the American people don't quit. And they deserve a president who doesn't quit either." An article published by the Associated Press on the same day said: "Hillary Rodham Clinton survived yet another day. There will be little time for celebration, though. Time and money are running out."

In fact, Obama's failure in Pennsylvania was expected. The white wage earners' state is his Achilles' heal. It should be noted that Obama's campaign has been plagued with setbacks since his March 4, or Super Tuesday II, defeat. He drew fire from his rival for being "elitist" because of his unguarded comments about small-town voters. The presidential hopeful reportedly said residents of small-town America cling to "guns or religion" as a way to "explain their frustrations" over job losses. Pennsylvania is one of the places that have the most small-town residents in the United States. Since the beginning of the primaries, Obama has been defeated in all states that traditionally vote in favor of the Democratic Party. Many Democrats are therefore concerned about his chances of beating Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The Pennsylvania primary was his last opportunity to prove himself. Unfortunately, he lost again with a two-digit margin, making his downfall even more obvious.

High political drama

Hopes to win the presidential election this year have been high among Democrats. Many Americans are fed up with the eight-year-long Republican administration led by President George W. Bush. They believe that their country is on the wrong track given the negative repercussions of the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the scandals involving high-ranking Republican officials, the subprime mortgage crisis, the tax relief scheme that robbed the rich to benefit the poor and dim economic prospects. Democrats won a landslide victory in the 2006 midterm election, gaining majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives had been under Republican control for 12 years. Bush's disapproval rating reached a record high of 69 percent in the latest Gallup poll. Keep in mind that his approval rating hit a record high of 90 percent after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Ironically, Bush will go down in history with both records.

Clinton and Obama are deeply embroiled in the struggle for presidential nomination and Democrats are finding that their advantages may not guarantee a White House victory. After he became the apparent Republican nominee in early March, McCain not only had enough time to collect money for his campaign but also was able to tour Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan with an air of leadership. His virtues, such as decisiveness, tenacity and honesty have won approval from an increasing number of voters. In the Democratic Party, however, the gloves have come off in the competition between Clinton and Obama.

The U.S. media publicized some sermons made by Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright. Americans were shocked when they heard the Democratic candidate's mentor yell, "No, no, no, God damn America!" and "Hillary ain't never been called a nigger." These remarks damaged the pure image Obama has fostered since his debut. His "transracial" appeal also has been suspected of being hypocrisy. Voters have reason to doubt whether Obama shares the same feelings deep in his heart. If he does not, how can he possibly have listened to Wright's sermons for the past two decades and consider him as a "spiritual guide"?

Clinton is no better than him. Shortly after she told a rally, with her signature smile, that she landed amidst sniper fire in Bosnia to promote the peace process there and in Herzegovina, the media accused her of lying by releasing a video showing that she descended from her plane safely and was greeted by a welcoming crowd. This was followed by an example that she cited in her speech to illustrate the problems in America's health care system, to in fact be false.