Pennsylvania, here they come

HARRISBURG - The political road show that has crisscrossed the nation is now destined for Pennsylvania.

Victories for Hillary Rodham Clinton in Ohio and Rhode Island last night, and a tight race in Texas, seemed certain to give her the momentum she needs to bring the race to the Keystone State.

Not since Jimmy Carter in 1976 have residents in the state had a real voice in a presidential primary.

As Gov. Rendell said just hours before the polls closed in Ohio, "We'll know by the end of the night whether Pennsylvania will be irrelevant or the center of the universe."

And by 11 p.m., Clinton announced to cheering supporters: "In states like Pennsylvania and so many others, people are watching this historic campaign and they want their turn to help make history. They want their voices to count. And they should."

So the next seven weeks before the April 22 vote will likely see intense campaigning by Clinton and Barack Obama, who is expected to still be ahead in the delegate race.

They will descend on Pennsylvania armed with volunteers, advisers and political operatives in an effort to end the protracted fight for their party's nomination.

"It could be like Iowa on steroids," said state Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney, referring to Iowa's much-publicized caucus fight back in January. "It will be wild, is what it will be."

Picture national media crews doing live shots from a small deli in Scranton. Or an old steel mill in Pittsburgh. Or an inner-city church in Philadelphia. And millions of dollars pouring in for television ads featuring the two candidates and their positions.

And that is just a glimpse of the attention that will be focused on the state, its problems, needs and strong points.

"There's no template for it in the state," said Sen. Bob Casey. "We've never had two candidates come to Pennsylvania so evenly matched."

One thing, however, is certain, Casey said: "With seven weeks in the state, it won't be drive-by campaigning."

With so much time in one place without another critical primary in play, "the candidates could even come into your living room," said pollster and political analyst G. Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College.

Critical battlegrounds in the state, several political analysts said, will include Philadelphia's suburbs. Philadelphia, many believe, will come out for Obama, while Pittsburgh and its suburbs, as well as the so-called "T" in central and northern parts of Pennsylvania - a more conservative area - will likely favor Clinton.

But Clinton has some powerful supporters with major clout in the city, including Rendell and Mayor Nutter. Important Obama backers include former Lt. Gov. Mark Singel and former Rendell campaign manager David Sweet.

Some key players from Western Pennsylvania have yet to endorse a candidate, including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato.

Both campaigns have set up offices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Clinton Pennsylvania spokesman Mark Nevins said offices would also be opening by the end of the week in Scranton, Allentown, State College, Harrisburg, Erie and Johnstown.

Whether those offices go to full campaign mode may still be up in the air because of the complex delegate selection rules. But most analysts had believed a victory by Clinton in either Texas or Ohio would keep the race going.

Locally, Obama supporters said they were ready.

At the World Café in West Philadelphia, where they were watching the results last night, State Sen. Anthony Williams (D., Phila.) took to the podium and whipped up the crowd with oratory.

"This is the beginning of organizing in Pennsylvania," he cried, and exhorted them moments later by asking repeatedly: "Pennsylvania's going to send who to the White House?"

"Obama!" the crowd yelled back.

Rendell last night said he believed that if Clinton won Texas and Ohio, followed by Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan (if the latter two states redo their primaries, as some have suggested they should), then she can make a strong argument that she's in the best position to clinch the presidency - even if she isn't clearly ahead in the delegate count.

"She can then go to the [national Democratic] convention and say, 'Hey, listen, I won every big state in the union with the exception of Illinois - these are the states you need to win the presidency, I'm the strongest candidate,' " Rendell said.

If she wins Ohio but loses Texas?

"First I would say: 'Whatever you choose, I'm with you.. . . If you want me on the boat, I'll be the last person on the boat.' But we lose the ability to make the case to the convention," the governor said.