CaribWorldNews, QUEENS, NY, Tues. 5, 2008: The Birdie, The Mighty Sparrow, is among those urging Caribbean nationals to vote for Senator Barack Obama today.

Dr. Slinger Francisco, Grenada-born, Trinidad raised, Calypso King of The World, has composed a special song for the Democratic Presidential hopeful.

The calypso single, `Barack The Magnificent,` is an infectious lyric that takes the listener through the senator’s humble beginnings and his rise to the top.

`Barack! Barack! He is fighting for openness and honest government. Barack is doggedly defiant: phenomenal strength, and wisdom beyond comment,` states the chorus of the song.

`Stop the war. Stop genocide in Darfur. No matter what … get health care for have not… He stood his ground when the war was a conception. Said it was wrong so he didn’t go along... he’s a man of resplendent vision,` adds Sparrow. `What’s at stake… clean up Washington. … Democrats rise up and fight.`

Last summer, Sparrow endorsed Obama at a brief exclusive meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn, NY. Sparrow is no stranger to political rhyme. His 1956 hit, `Jean and Dinah,` which focused on the fallout from Americans who had left Trinidad`s military bases, was a political satire that was followed by songs like ` Ayatollah` and `Wanted Dead Or Alive,` and ` Martin Luther King for President.`

American voters, both Democrats and Republicans in 24 states and Guam, will vote in the Super Tuesday election today. At stake are 1,681 pledged delegates for the Democrats, representing nearly half of all the pledged delegates available during the entire season. The Republicans, have 975, or 41 per cent of the total, to be won.

As of last night, polls showed a close battle between Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. Both candidates campaigned in Connecticut and New Jersey yesterday. Obama picked up the endorsement of Hollywood Actor Robert DeNiro as he made an appearance before some 3,000 at the Meadowlands arena in New Jersey, a day after the New York Giants, who use the arena to practice, won the Super Bowl in a stunning upset over the New England Patriots. A Quinnipiac University Poll yesterday showed Obama closing in on Clinton in New York and New Jersey, states considered to be largely Hillary country.

In New York, Sen. Clinton led Obama 53 - 39 percent among likely Democratic primary voters, compared to 51 - 25 percent on January 22 while in New Jersey, Clinton edges Obama 48 - 43 percent among likely Democratic voters, compared to 49 - 32 percent January 23.

Among Republicans, Senator John McCain led Mitt Romney 54 - 22 percent among likely Republican voters, up from 30 - 9 percent in a January 22 poll while McCain tops Romney 52 - 30 percent among likely Republican voters, compared to 29 - 14 percent January 23.

On the Democratic side, 2,025 delegate votes are needed for the Presidential nomination; among Republicans, 1,191. Each party has an additional number of delegates who are not mandated on Tuesday. They bring the total number of delegates to 2,088 Democrats and 1,081 Republicans. So far, Obama is leading the delegate count with 34 compared to Clinton`s 21.

Here is a breakdown of the numbers of delegates available to each party in states voting today.
ALABAMA: Democrats, 60; Republicans, 48.
ALASKA: Democrats, 18; Republicans, 29.
AMERICAN SAMOA: Democrats, 9; Republican caucus was Feb. 23.
ARIZONA: Democrats, 67; Republicans, 53.
ARKANSAS: Democrats, 47; Republicans, 34.
CALIFORNIA: Democrats, 441; Republicans, 173.
COLORADO: Democrats, 71; Republicans, 46.
CONNECTICUT: Democrats, 60; Republicans, 30.
DELAWARE: Democrats, 23; Republicans, 18.
DEMOCRATS ABROAD: Democrats, 11; Republicans living abroad vote directly in state primaries.
GEORGIA: Democrats, 103; Republicans, 72.
IDAHO: Democrats, 23; Republicans vote May 27.
ILLINOIS: Democrats, 185; Republicans, 70.
KANSAS: Democrats, 41; Republicans vote Feb. 9.
MASSACHUSETTS: Democrats, 121; Republicans, 43.
MINNESOTA: Democrats, 88; Republicans, 41.
MISSOURI: Democrats, 88; Republicans, 58.
MONTANA: Democrats vote June 3; Republicans, 25.
NEW JERSEY: Democrats, 127; Republicans, 52.
NEW MEXICO: Democrats, 38; Republicans vote June 3.
NEW YORK: Democrats, 281; Republicans, 101.
NORTH DAKOTA: Democrats, 21; Republicans, 26.
OKLAHOMA: Democrats, 47; Republicans, 41.
TENNESSEE: Democrats, 85; Republicans, 55.
UTAH: Democrats, 29; Republicans 36.
WEST VIRGINIA: Democrats vote May 13; Republicans, 30.

The first polls are set to close in Georgia at 7 p.m. while voting is set to be completed in California at 11 p.m. Eastern time.

Catch the calypso in our audio section. – CaribWorldNews.com