Today 269, or about 12 percent, of the 2,161 delegates needed to win the Democratic presidential nomination are at stake in seven states.

• Arizona: 55
• Delaware: 15
• Missouri: 74
• New Mexico: 26
• North Dakota: 14
• Oklahoma: 40
• South Carolina: 45
• Total: 269
• Needed to win: 2,161

These seven contests will provide a number of firsts in this presidential campaign. The first election in a Southern state and the first state with a large African-American population, South Carolina. The first contests in states with large Latino populations, Arizona and New Mexico.

CNN reports that polls show Kerry ahead in six of today’s seven contests. Edwards leads in South Carolina and Clark is close in Oklahoma.

State By State

Arizona
55 delegates are at stake in Arizona’s closed primary. In a closed primary only voters registered in a particular party can vote for one of that party’s presidential candidates. Latino’s now account for about 25 percent of Arizona’s population. Arizona also has a large veteran poplation. The Arizona Republic, Arizona’s largest newspaper has endorsed Lieberman. Zogby’s final tracking poll predicts Kerry 42 percent over Clark 28 percent and Dean 15 percent.
Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

Delaware
15 delegates are at stake in Delaware’s closed primary.
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

Missouri
74 delegates are at stake in Missouri’s open primary. An open primary is open essentially to all voters. Zogby’s final tracking poll predicts Kerry 56 percent over Edwards 17percent.
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

New Mexico
26 delegates are at stake in New Mexico’s closed caucuses. In a closed caucus participation is limited to those voters registered in that party prior to Election Day. Latino’s now make up about 32 percent of New Mexico’s population.
Results are expected around 9 p.m. ET.

North Dakota
14 delegates are at stake in North Dakota’s open caucus. The state has no voter registration, so anyone who says they have lived in North Dakota for more than 30 days can vote.
Results are expected around 8 p.m. ET.

Oklahoma
40 delegates are at stake in Oklahoma’s closed primary. Zogby’s final tracking poll predicts Clark 31 over Kerry 29 percent and Edwards 26 percent.
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

South Carolina
45 delegates are at stake in South Carolina’s open primary. African-Americans make up about 30 percent of South Carolina’s population. Zogby’s final tracking poll predicts Edwards 36 percent over Kerry 32 percent.
Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

Cross-posted from California Yankee