Blue Crab Boulevard

I just posted that last item predicting more departures from the Hillary Clinton campaign when I stumbled across this item. Clinton has sent a couple more people packing, this time from her online operation.

Along with the departures of campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle and deputy campaign manager Mike Henry, the Clinton campaign today revealed that two of its longtime online operation leaders are moving on.

"As part of the expansion of our Internet department following a tremendously successful month online, we will be adding 4 new staffers, two of whom will replace Kevin Thurman and Crystal Patterson, who moved on to new positions," said Clinton internet director Peter Daou. "Kevin and Crystal have been valued members of our team and we are grateful to them for their contribution to the campaign."

Thurman had come to the Clinton campaign from Tom Vilsack's brief presidential effort, while Patterson previously worked for Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, who this year endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Well, the ambiguous wording may mean they aren't completely out of the campaign, but it sure sounds like they are. It's beginning to look like they're rearranging the deck chairs on the USS Inevitable as it slips majestically under the waves. 

Barack Obama ran the table and swept all three "Potomac Primaries" in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC by huge margins. It wasn't even close, folks. John McCain also swept all three, albeit by smaller margins.

Mr. Obama saw decisive victories in all three Potomac contests. More votes were cast for Mr. Obama in Virginia than the entire Republican slate of candidates combined. With 92% of precincts reporting, 542,581 votes were cast for Mr. Obama while just 437,562 votes were cast for the six Republican candidates.

With votes still being counted, Mr. Obama led Mrs. Clinton 64% to 37% in Virginia, 75% to 24% in the District, and 60% to 36% in Maryland.

Republicans were also on the ballot, and Arizona Sen. John McCain similarly enjoyed a Potomac sweep against remaining rivals Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, although by slimmer margins. However, with the Arizona senator the near-certain nominee following his decisive victories and formidable delegate lead in the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests, the focus centered on the Democratic nomination battle.

The Virginia results were closer than Mr. McCain would have liked. The state has a heavy military population and independent voters — usually a McCain mainstay — but Mr. Huckabee campaigned hard there while Mr. McCain took Saturday and Sunday off and held just one event in Virginia Monday.

Republican tallies weren't final, but Mr. McCain was leading Mr. Huckabee 54% to 31% in Maryland, 67% to 17% in the District, and 50% to 41% in Virginia.

Obama has apparently taken the lead in delegate counts according to a number of sources. Because of the different rules in the Republican races, McCain swept all the delegates in the contests, gaining 89 more for the day. 

The Clinton campaign has now lost eight in a row. There will undoubtedly be more staff changes announced soon.