Feb 5, 2008 6:28 pm US/Central
Obama Predicts 'Split Decision' After Casting Vote
Senator: 'It's Emotional' To Return To S. Side After Grueling Campaign
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Sen. Obama casts his ballot at a South Side school on Super Tuesday.
CBS
Polls in the Chicago area are open until 7 p.m., and the stakes are high for the candidates in the running for the White House.
Twenty-four states are battlegrounds, and there are more than 1,000 delegates at stake for each party.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery caught up with Democrat Barack Obama, casting his ballot in Chicago Tuesday.
While Obama is playing up the fact that he believes Sen. Hillary Clinton is the favorite, he said he expects a "split decision'' after the ballots are counted across the country.
Applause from people in the polling place greeted the Sen. Obama and his wife, Michelle, as they returned to Hyde Park to cast their own votes.
After each took one of those big bedsheet ballots, they spent more than five minutes going over each office.
Obama, when asked how it feels to be back on the South Side, said, "It is wonderful to be home. Obviously, we've got a big race all across the country, but, but, to be able to come back home, and to see all these wonderful neighbors and friends, many of whom I've known for years, is really gratifying. And, it's nice to know that I've got so much support back home."
After the senator departed the polling place, CBS 2 talked to some of those here at Shoesmith School who were still bubbling about his visit.
"It was very emotional for me, just to be here, to be the person who helped to cast the ballot for Barack Obama," said election judge Charletta Tibbs.
The editor of the school's student newspaper even got to ask Obama a question.
Jacqueline Morgan said this is the first presidential candidate she's interviewed, but added, "There will be more."
The young student editor did not say whether she'd requested an interview with Sen. Clinton.
When we questioned Obama, he was quick to portray his chief rival as a "prohibitive favorite," trying to lower the bar for himself to be able to claim victory, even if the New York senator wins more states and racks up more delegates.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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