How do you like them apples?

The latest polls have Hillary moving back in front of Obama, in terms of popular support. The most recent Gallup poll gives Hillary a 5-point lead (margin of error on this poll is +/-3%). Unfortunately for Hillary's supporters, this rush for lots of early primaries means Obama will still be very difficult to overcome. That said, I have to think public opinion will have some impact on the superdelegates. Hillary is still mathematically in the race, but needs not only to win the rest, but to dominate.

It also appears that the Republicans' strategy of early concession to the front-runner is paying off. McCain has the luxury of sitting back and running a lower-key campaign while Obama and Clinton snipe at each other, stripping away each other's support. Race and sex are now on the table as issues, regardless of the candidates' druthers. And the Democrats are making these the issues in the primaries, which is utterly lethal.

There's a long way to go yet, and a lot can happen. By all rights, the Republicans have no business expecting to win this election, yet here they are, perfectly poised to hold onto the White House. And the Democrat situation won't clear up any time soon.