A Last Hurdle for Obama?

Over the summer months, Obama honed the elements of a stump speech with a polish that enabled him to deliver it without notes a half-dozen times a day -- with perfect pitch. Backing his personal appeal with an organizational effort that was underestimated by both the Clinton and Edwards campaigns, which had a year's head start, Obama showed Democrats a combination of campaigning and organizational skill they had not seen from any candidate in their party since Bill Clinton first ran for president.

If he can demonstrate that combination again Tuesday in New Hampshire, this race would be a lot closer to being finished than anyone might have guessed even a week ago.

Hillary Clinton has one more chance to stop Obama's momentum here. New Hampshire has been good to the Clintons in the past. They need the state to come to their rescue one more time.

She cannot count on help from anyone else. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, two veteran senators, have left the race with their personal reputations intact but with little political reward for their efforts.

Bill Richardson is hanging on, but with only a modest hope of securing second place on the ticket.

Edwards claimed a degree of satisfaction by edging Clinton for second place in Iowa. But since his populist appeal failed to win in that state, with its rich tradition of rewarding that kind of campaign, it is hard to imagine him doing better in New Hampshire.

Any way you view it, the race is now Obama's to lose.

davidbroder@washpost.com