McCain Clinches GOP Nomination, Democrats Fight On.

Capping one of the most incredible comebacks in modern political history, on March 5 Senator John McCain (R-Az.), who has always voted solidly pro-life on abortion, swept primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont, placing him over the 1,191 delegate threshold needed to win the Republican nomination for President.

By contrast that same night's results left solidly pro-abortion Democrats Senators Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Il.) mired in what promises to be a bitterly contested and potentially bloody competition.

Sen. Clinton carried Ohio comfortably, Texas narrowly, and Rhode Island for good measure. Obama, who had won 11 primaries in a row, prevailed only in Vermont.

Democrats allot their delegates proportionally, meaning that Clinton only slightly shrank Obama's lead in pledged delegates. But that margin is now less than 100 and her trifecta gave Clinton bragging rights and renewed momentum as the two gear up for the next big fight: April 23 in Pennsylvania.

When it became clear that McCain had swept the four primaries and secured enough delegates, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee graciously withdrew and pledged to work hard for the Republican ticket. Soon afterwards McCain just as graciously accepted Huckabee's concession and gave a speech that outlined the themes he will likely use this fall.

The day after clinching the nomination McCain met with President Bush at the White House to accept his personal endorsement. "I'm honored and humbled," McCain said, adding that he felt both "respect and affection" for Bush.

McCain "emphasized that he would welcome the President's personal appearances by ...