Why Super Tuesday Is So Important To The Presidential Candidates In Both Parties

ter starting small, the presidential campaign has exploded into a nationwide contest that on Tuesday could all but decide the Democratic and Republican nominating fights.

Twelve states from Alaska to Massachusetts will hold caucuses and primaries that day, awarding a big chunk of the delegates needed to secure the two major party nominations.

The balloting marks a fundamental shift, away from the close-quarters campaigning in states like Iowa and New Hampshire and the drive for momentum that came with winning or, for the second- and third-place finishers, beating expectations.

From here out, the race is about cold, hard mathematics and piling up convention delegates.

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, who start out ahead after winning three of four opening contests, seem likely to expand their lead in the delegate count Tuesday, or Super Tuesday as it has come to be known. The question is whether their margins prove insurmountable.

“If Clinton stretches out to a 100-delegate lead, it will be tough … to catch up,” said Josh Putnam, a University of Georgia expert on the nominating process. “On the Republican side, there is a little more leeway. But a lot of chips have to fall in line for anyone to be able to overcome Trump at this point.”

That is not say the presidential contests will end any time soon.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Clinton’s sole challenger, has signaled his intention to stay in the race through California’s June 7 primary.

Clinton and Sanders are not that far apart in pledged delegates. But Clinton enjoys a massive advantage among “super delegates,” party leaders and other elected officials who can support whomever they choose.