They vote today, and the Tories watch with bated breath ...

Today the voters make their choices in Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio in presidential primaries in both the Democratic and Republican parties south of the border.

John McCain should mathematically clinch the Republican nomination after tonight's results are announced. The presumptive nominee since Super Tuesday, McCain's confirmation is all over but the clapping.

On the Democratic side, however, a bloodbath is soiling both Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton as they battle tooth and nail for every bit of advantage in their presidential nomination race. I must tell you that for all the boasting about getting back into the swing of things, and her assertion that wins in Texas and Ohio will put her candidacy back in business, mathematical reality suggests it is nearly impossible that Clinton will finish the primary season ahead of Obama in pledged delegates (meaning the delegates apportioned to candidates based on the popular vote).

Hillary's determination against increasingly long odds is starting to bug the bigwigs in the Democratic party. If she does not win convincingly in the two big states on offer today, there will be increased pressure on her to bow out.

But her "kitchen sink" strategy was substantially boosted when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's staff leaked information about a meeting between Canadian consular staff in Chicago and a staff member on Obama's campaign team. The allegation that Obama spouts anti-NAFTA rhetoric to curry favour in Ohio while reassuring trade partners that it's all just bluster has had a potentially damaging impact not only on Obama's chances today but also on the Democrats' trade messaging during the general presidential election later this year. They are furious at Canada for interfering in their election process, and the Harper government's belated apologies don't change the abject stupidity of appearing to help the Republicans re-take the White House in November.

The Harper people can only hope that Obama doesn't win the general election. It could be a long, cold wait before he deigns to be seen with anyone Canadian after that kind of stunt.

I'm ashamed to say my government might be responsible for derailing the message of hope Obama is espousing south of the border.

Blame Canada. Yes we can, indeed.