The Next! Biggest! Primary! (Not.)

One could almost smell the quiet in the US presidential campaign at the weekend, as bad weather put the brakes on campaigning in America's Dairyland state of Wisconsin. Polls put Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton within 5 points in this state that could either (a) cement Obama's frontrunner status heading into critical primaries in Ohio and Texas on March 4, or (b) give Clinton another comeback moment, akin to her performance in New Hampshire.

Wisconsonians (Wisconsiners? Wiscontarians?) will vote tomorrow, as will Hawaiians, following a weekend that was notable for its lack of a new storyline. Barack Obama met with John Edwards. Hillary Clinton repackaged her economic plan. Bill Clinton snapped back at hecklers at a Hillary rally. Twice.

All-in-all, pretty much a yawnfest of a weekend. Westmonster will be watching closely to see if anybody manages to upset expectations, for better, or for worse. But at this point, regardless of what happens in Wisconsin and Hawaii, the real showdown is set for March 4. Until then, barring a major surprise, it's all so much chatter.