TRAIL MIX: 'Super' Campaign Nuggets from Newspaper Blogs

By: Emily Vaughan Hillary Clinton had a big win in the crucial and delegate heavy state of California, and the exit polls show why. Andrew Malcolm at the L.A. Times' Top of the Ticket had this to say:

"Despite the best efforts of Sen. Barack Obama including advertising, endorsements and the campaigning of Sen. Edward Kennedy, the Illinois senator made no significant inroads into the strength of Sen. Hillary Clinton in the state's large Latino community. So he lost the state.

"About seven in ten Latino voters chose Clinton, while only three of ten voted for Obama.

"And what made a significant impact was that about three in ten Democratic votes were Latino, almost twice the share of the Democratic vote as in 2004's primary. Unfortunately, for Obama, who counted on his demonstrated strength in the African American community, less than one in ten Democratic votes were black."

The L.A. Times

Choosing to remain neutral, Speaker Nancy Pelosi voted absentee in her home state of California, instead wooing the support of ... NASCAR? Mary Ann Akers at washingtonpost.com's The Sleuth had this to say:

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has remained neutral in the Democratic presidential primary. So much so that instead of spending Super Tuesday getting out the vote in her state's crucial primary contest or capitalizing off all the press attention -- she stayed in Washington to schmooze with a NASCAR driver.

"Pelosi, who voted on an absentee ballot last week (for whom, we know not), hosted two-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in her Capitol suite Tuesday afternoon for the ostensible purpose of congratulating him on his recent victory.

"The meeting and photo-op is also a great chance for House Democrats to continue making inroads with the 'NASCAR Dad' vote."

The Washington Post

Super Tuesday found the networks treating it like election night. Their five hours of prime time coverage of priamry results faced a formidable foe: 'American Idol.' Brian Stetler at The New York Times' The Caucus had this to say:

"It's 'American Idol' versus Super Tuesday on television tonight, as the Fox reality juggernaut faces primary election coverage on ABC and at least six cable networks.

"'If you had to pick just one political story to go up against 'American Idol,' this is it,' Bob Schieffer, the host of 'Face the Nation' on CBS, told the New York Post."

The New York Times

With a strong performance by Mike Huckabee and a not quite campaign ending one by Mitt Romney, not all pundits are settled on John McCain as the inevitable nominee. But that didn't stop the Arizona senator from claiming victory. Mark Memmott at USA Today's On Politics had this to say:

"His wins today in 'the east, the south, the midwest and the northwest' mean he can jettison his accustomed role of underdog, Sen. John McCain told supporters a moment ago. 'Tonight, I think we must get used to the idea that we are the Republican Party frontrunner for the nomination!' the Arizona senator declared."

USA Today

The Clinton camp may be calling her Massachusetts win an upset, but not everyone is convinced. Frank James at the Chicago Tribune's The Swamp had this to say:

"The Clinton campaign is pushing the line tonight that its projected win in Massachusetts is a major victory.

"It is actually calling it an upset. This may be one of the best examples of spin we'll see tonight.

"It is arguably not an upset. Sen. Hillary Clinton had a big polling lead in the state, depending on which poll you looked at. Yes, some polls showed the race close.

"But a Feb.1-3 Survey USA poll had the race with Clinton at 56 percent and Obama at 39 percent. With more than a quarter of the vote in, the race looks about like that poll."

The Chicago Tribune