Opinion: North Carolina called for Barack Obama

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That sigh of relief many in the political world just heard came from the Barack Obama presidential campaign.

The moment the polls closed in North Carolina, Obama instantly was declared the winner by all the television networks and the Associated Press. So he not only dodged his worst-case scenario -- losing both of the day’s primaries -- but he may be headed to an impressive victory in North Carolina.

Hillary Clinton has maintained a lead in Indiana since all polls closed there at 7 p.m. (EDT), but the state has yet to called, in part because Obama strongholds have yet to report.

Assuming the final polls from Indiana proved correct and she wins the state, the night becomes a matter of watching the margins -- and preparing for the campaign to continue.

West Virginia -- very favorable turf for Clinton -- is up next, with a primary next Tuesday.

-- Don Frederick