We can't even begin to guess who will win nominations

If you would have told Ben Nelson seven years ago he'd be endorsing someone named Barack Hussein Obama for president --well, at least we doubt he would have believed you.

But that's just what he did Saturday, and that illustrates just how unpopular the former first lady is in Nebraska, and how topsy-turvey this year's election is turning out to be.

Nelson calls Obama the "prototype of what we need today" and says he has "the greatest potential to ending the bitterness and poisonous atmosphere in Washington" and "represents the best hope for our own political reconciliation."

Nelson's endorsement of someone other than Hillary Clinton is an indication of just how disliked by so many people in Nebraska the former first lady is.

That doesn't mean the Republicans will have an easy time defeating the Democratic nominee, whomever he or she is, in Nebraska or anywhere else across the nation.

None of the GOP contenders seem to have a consensus here or elsewhere, either.

That's good for Nebraska, which could become a battleground state if the Democratic nominee isn't decided after Feb. 5, according to Obama's campaign manager.

And, a new twist in Nebraska is the caucus system, which will be used by Democrats on Feb. 9.

Who will prevail in battle for the party nominations, in Southwest Nebraska, the state as a whole and nationally? We couldn't even begin to guess.