Berth Day

In what is being hailed as more of a turning point in the presidential race than (not-so) Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton and Barack "Barry" Obama face off in the Pennsylvania primary, the last of the big-state contests.

With 158 delegates at stake, Pennsylvania offers the largest prize remaining in a primary season that ends on June 3. Obama begins with a delegate lead, 1648.5 to 1509.5, out of 2,025 needed to win the nomination, but said he expected to lose, though narrowly, and works to limit any gains Clinton makes in the delegate chase. For her part, Clinton dismissed the notion that she needed a blowout victory to quell doubts about her candidacy.

Clinton's aides disputed suggestions she would prevail by a double-digit margin. Beyond that, a defeat for Clinton could spell the end of her candidacy, but a sizable win would strengthen her claim to being the stronger general election opponent, an argument she has made to superdelegates who hold the balance of power at the party convention in Denver in August.

The primary has been unusual due to the intense campaigning normally reserved for the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. Philly cheesesteaks were commonplace for both candidates. Obama went bowling as he reached out for the support of working-class voters, while Clinton showed her blue-collar bona fides with a shot of Crown Royal and a beer chaser. Nearly $16 million was spent on television ads, although, Obama out purchased Clinton nearly 3 to 1.

The remaining Democratic contests are primaries in North Carolina, Indiana, Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, Montana, South Dakota and Puerto Rico, and caucuses in Guam -- all of which may take some significance as the day's results play out. A victory for Obama effectively kills Clinton's campaign, and defeat for Obama makes Clinton the hot forerunner.

UPDATE: Hilary delivered under pressure and took the state, keeping the race for the presidency a one party affair.