With a reported 40-point lead for Senator Hillary Clinton, West Virginia voters head to the polls.


Once again the word being buzzed by blogs and pundits: "margin"- as Senator Clinton looks to woo Superdelegates and Senator Barack Obama again faces questions about his "ability to draw the support of white, blue-collar voters."

A Clinton memo released today says, "Given the attempts by our opponent and some in the media to declare this race over, any significant increase in voter turnout, coupled with a decisive Clinton victory, would send a strong message that Democrats remain excited and energized by Hillary's candidacy..."

Senator Obama, meanwhile, is slated to be in Washington voting on a bill to help protect collective bargaining rights of firefighters and police officers. He then is expected in Missouri and Michigan for campaign events.

Senator Clinton is expected in Charleston, West Virginia for a presumed victory speech.

Marisa's Dandelion Patch writes from the mountain state, "I can’t speak for everyone in this state but as a lifelong resident, I do have an opinion about why this state is backing Hillary. It isn’t about race. It’s about politics. While West Virginia is a 'blue state' we’re also more moderate than many other Blue states. The hard working men and women of this state have depended on the coal and steel industries, both of which have been hurt tremendously by environmental issues, which traditionally has been associated with the far left. This isn’t to say that Hillary is not far left, only that she is presenting herself as more moderate than Obama."

Faithful writes at WVBlue, "Appalachia is not just some racist backwater, it is the key to electoral success in Presidential elections. So, Democrats, after the WV primary today, and the KY primary next Tuesday - y'all keep coming back. Appalachia has a lot to offer you, and in many ways we need your help. Appalachia has some of the highest poverty rates in the entire country, and a lot of those communities are being ripped apart by mountaintop removal coal-mining. But the Appalachian people are a good people, with an often progressive social history alongside with a relatively 'conservative' culture to those outside the region."

The Political Fancier says, "The good thing is that this race has been over for days if not weeks, so I don’t really care what happens in the Appalachian mountains. Also, I’m an elitist and will be too busy eating babies to watch silly West Virginia vote."

While Kicking Over My Traces offers music for today's primary.

They are voting today in Nebraska too-33 delegates are at stake for presumptive GOP nominee Senator John McCain. In February Democrats caucused with Senator Obama as the majority winner.