FACTBOX: Post-February 5 scenarios in political race

(Reuters) - After Super Tuesday voting, Republicans closed in on picking a nominee for the November U.S. presidential election while Democrats settled in for a long battle.

Here are some scenarios for the presidential nomination battle in the coming weeks:

* Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who emerged from the 24-state Super Tuesday battle in a virtual draw with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, looks poised to fare well in the next series of elections in Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska, Maine, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

But since Democrats distribute delegates among candidates in proportion to their vote statewide and in individual congressional districts, those who lose a state can still come away with a big chunk of delegates.

By the end of February it is likely neither Clinton nor Obama will emerge with a significant lead in delegates. Clinton is focusing on contests in delegate-rich Texas and Ohio on March 4 as her best chance to gain a significant edge in delegates as advisers to both candidates are predicting the battle could last into the summer.

* Clinton, a former first lady, is well known to voters and has maintained a lead in national polls, even as Obama won early state contests in Iowa and South Carolina and gained momentum with celebrity endorsements and huge crowds attending his rallies. A longer campaign could benefit Obama as he gets a chance to introduce himself to more voters.

* A close contest could hinge on nearly 800 Democratic "superdelegates" who can support whichever candidate they want. Clinton and Obama are avidly courting those elected officials and party insiders, who account for one-fifth of the party's 4,049 delegates.

* In the Republican field, Arizona Sen. John McCain emerged from Super Tuesday with a commanding lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. McCain, whose campaign was all but dead last summer, staged a stunning comeback and won several big states where delegates are granted on a winner-take-all basis. The Arizona senator still faces opposition from conservatives who remain skeptical of his stance on taxes and the environment. He is campaigning hard to win them over and guarantee his role as the presumptive nominee.

* Romney, a wealthy former venture capitalist, has spent more than $35 million of his own money and plans to stay in the race, even though he had a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday -- winning seven of the 21 Republican contests and splitting the anti-McCain vote with Huckabee.

* Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister who is strong in the South and among evangelical Christians, said his fund-raising had picked up after winning five states on Super Tuesday. He expects to be competitive in upcoming contests in Virginia, Kansas and Texas. Huckabee's continued presence in the race could hurt Romney, who needs those votes to catch McCain.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles)

(For more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http:blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)