POLITICS: It's a Clean Sweep in the Potomac Primaries

The Potomac Primaries were held today, with Barack Obama and John McCain taking all three elections.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Braving cold, wind, sleet, and freezing rain, a large number of voters in the mid-Atlantic region of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. showed up at the polls. In all three areas, they chose Barack Obama and John McCain.

Barack Obama was declared the winner in the Virginia primary minutes after the polls closed. He ended up with 62 percent of the Commonwealth's Democratic votes. He went on to take the Maryland Primary with 72 percent and the District of Columbia with 76 percent.

At a morning stop on primary day at a doughnut shop in downtown Washington, D.C., the Illinois Senator revealed a caution he has learned after some earlier primary shocks as he shook hands and talked to reporters.

"I'm never expected to win. I don't win until I win. I was expected to win in New Hampshire. We lost. I remember that."

Addressing supporters in Madison, WI, Obama appeared energized by the wins. "Today, the change we seek swept through the Chesapeake and over the Potomac," Obama said. "The cynics can no longer say our hope is false; we have won east and west, north and south."

John McCain's victory was too close to call in Virginia until more than 60 percent of the precincts had reported. He ended up with a 6 percent margin over Mike Huckabee at 48 percent. Ron Paul lagged way behind with 4 percent.

McCain's win came from strong showings in Northern Virginia, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and the Richmond Metro Area.

In Maryland, McCain pulled ahead quickly to take 56 percent of the vote to Huckabee's 31 percent. The Arizona Senator also was an early call in the District of Columbia, moving way ahead of Huckabee with 67 percent. The former Arkansas Governor only received 16 percent of the popular vote. Paul garnered 4 percent and 9 percent respectively in the two primaries.

Polling hours in Maryland were extended until 9:30pm by court order because of traffic problems due to the inclement weather. Results from precincts are still coming in slowly with only 1 percent of the vote currently reported.

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