It is another “decisive” primary day in the Democratic Presidential nomination deathmatch.  Ilinois Senator Barack Obama is looking to score a knockout blow over Sen. Clinton in North Carolina and Indiana today.  The Clinton machine has appeared to be on the ropes before - after Iowa, after Super Tuesday, after Potomac Tuesday - but each time they have bounced back with big wins in New Hampshire, Texas, and Pennsylvania.  It remains to be seen whether today will be the climax or just another chapter to this story.

The polling is very tight in Indiana, with the fault lines between urban and rural voters being hammered by both campaigns.  Sen. Clinton - the woman whose pedigree includes Wellesley and Yale Law and resistance to being anything other than Hillary Rodham - is now the boilermaker swilling, gas tax cutting friend of the common man.  Meanwhile, Barack Obama looks on unimpressed, as his legions of young people continue their march.

If Senator Clinton wins in both North Carolina and Indiana, it will be a huge boon to her campaign and give her the credibility with superdelegates she needs to make a persuasive case for the Democratic nomination.  Two wins for Obama probably means that Clinton is out, unable to raise money or mount a credible case for the superdelegates.  A split continues the muddled picture that has characterized the campaign to this point.

Polls close in North Carolina at 7:30pm and 7:00pm in Indiana - though a portion of Indiana is on Central time, meaning that they won’t really come in until after 8pm EDT.  Stay tuned - we’ll post the results here when we get them.