Brace your self for another troop surge.

This one does not have anything with Iraq. It has everything to do with the war for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the role Pennsylvania could play in it.

In short, the Keystone State could be the key player in deciding the knock-down, drag-out affair between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.

Of course that likely depends in no small part on whether Clinton can halt the Obama Express that has run off 11 straight primary wins.

It is now critical for Clinton to win big next Tuesday when voters in Ohio and Texas go to the polls. She must win one state and likely needs both.

Then all eyes will turn to Pennsylvania, which will become the center of the political universe for seven weeks until the Pennsylvania Primary April 22.

Both camps are already starting to move their ground organizations into the state.

It’s likely that we could see appearances – possibly several – by both candidates here in the supremely important Philadelphia suburbs.

The bitter race already has made some strange bedfellows here in Delaware County.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont was an early backer of Hillary Clinton. He still is. So is county Democratic co-chair Mary Ellen Balchunis.

But Delco Democratic Party boss Cliff Wilson is in Obama’s camp, as is Marple leader Tony Campisi. They’re joined by new state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161.

Just this week Democratic leaders in Darby Borough announced they were backing Obama.
This one could result in trench warfare. And that’s just within the party. In the meantime, Republicans will sit back and watch as their Democratic brethren go at it hammer and tong.

Who knew when we lamented the date of our primary, the fact that it was so late in the process, that it could end up deciding the Democratic nominee.

Keep your seat belts buckled, Dems. This one could be a bumpy ride.