Here’s the short form for what you need to know about Super Tuesday voting, you know, the day when residents in 24 states not named Pennsylvania got a huge say in deciding who our next president will be.

On the Democratic side, it’s time to hunker down. This is going to be an epic battle pitting Sen. Hillary Clinton against Sen. Barack Obama. So tight is this contest that Pennsylvanians actually might be casting meaningful votes on April 22.

On the Republican ledger, Super Tuesday was just that for Sen. John McCain. He emerges as the clear front-runner, capped by a critical win in California.

Appropriately enough for Mitt Romney, today is Ash Wednesday. And his campaign will now need to rise Phoenix-like from the ashes if he wants to derail the McCain express.

McCain opened up a yawning gulf in the delegate battle, stashing 570 yesterday to just 176 for Romney. Overall, the Arizona senator now has 613 on his side. He needs 1,191 to win the nomination.

The Democratic side is much more of a dogfight, with Clinton and Obama trading victories and sharing in the treasure trove of prized delegates.

Clinton took California, while Obama took 13 in total, to just eight for Clinton. In terms of delegates, Clinton now has 845 to Obama’s 765, with 2,025 needed to sew up the nomination.

Locally, New Jersey voters backed Clinton and McCain. Down in Delaware, it was Obama and McCain claiming the winner’s mantle.

Here are a couple of key things to consider in the mountain of numbers that came out of yesterday’s voting.

On the Republican side, can Romney right the ship and stay in the fight? Or is it time to throw in the towel?

On the Democratic side, one thing’s certain, Democrats are about to make history, nominating either a woman or an African-American as their standard-bearer.

Here’s the question I’m wondering about. What would their ticket be? Would either candidate turn to the other as a running mate, and would the other accept?

Hey, only two more months before we go to the polls.