With only two major primaries left before Pennsylvania gets a chance to vote, it is beginning to look like the Keystone State will get a say.  At least on the Democratic side, as the GOP nomination is all but locked up.

Texas and Ohio get their say March 4.  Texas uses a convoluted system that all but ensures there will not be a decisive victory.  In Texas, 1/3 of delegates are chosen in a caucus, and delegate numbers are weighted toward districts that have performed well for the Dems in general elections.  The system in Texas is so weird that the winner of the most delegates could lose the popular votes by a fairly large margin.

While Hillary Clinton is polling ahead in both Texas and Ohio, neither race is likely to deliver a knock-out blow.  Barrack Obama does well in states with caucuses (Texas) and states with large college towns (Longhorns and Buckeyes).  While some pressure will be on the person with fewer delegates to quit.  But, not enough.

That, Pennsylvania, leaves us.

The candidates are already priming Pennsylvania by making appearances in Youngstown, which guarantees TV coverage in the Pittsburgh media market.

For a month and a half Pennsylvania will be the last focal point of major, expensive campaigning.  After Pennsylvania there are barely any primaries.  Just a few like Montana in June.  Unless Pennsylvania leaves the race teetering on victory for someone, those primaries will not matter.

The winner of Pennsylvania will also receive a boost going to the potentially protracted war of words that could theoretically lead to a brokered convention (which doesn’t take place until August).

Pennsylvanians are used to being subject to late part of the campaign.  Now we get to peak at the early part.  Perhaps we should all be rooting for a lop-sided victory for either candidate on March 4.

After being told repeatedly that the race would be decided by February, Pennsylvania will get its say come April 22, 2008.