Victories for Hillary Rodham Clinton in Ohio and Rhode Island last night, and a tight race in Texas, seemed certain to give her the momentum she needs to bring the race to the Keystone State.

Not since Jimmy Carter in 1976 have residents in the state had a real voice in a presidential primary.

As Gov. Rendell said just hours before the polls closed in Ohio, "We'll know by the end of the night whether Pennsylvania will be irrelevant or the center of the universe."

And by 11 p.m., Clinton announced to cheering supporters: "In states like Pennsylvania and so many others, people are watching this historic campaign and they want their turn to help make history. They want their voices to count. And they should."

So the next seven weeks before the April 22 vote will likely see intense campaigning by Clinton and Barack Obama, who is expected to still be ahead in the delegate race.

They will descend on Pennsylvania armed with volunteers, advisers and political operatives in an effort to end the protracted fight for their party's nomination.

"It could be like Iowa on steroids," said state Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney, referring to Iowa's much-publicized caucus fight back in January. "It will be wild, is what it will be."

Picture national media crews doing live shots from a small deli in Scranton. Or an old steel mill in Pittsburgh. Or an inner-city church in Philadelphia. And millions of dollars pouring in for television ads featuring the two candidates and their positions.

And that is just a glimpse of the attention that will be focused on the state, its problems, needs and strong points.

"There's no template for it in the state," said Sen. Bob Casey. "We've never had two candidates come to Pennsylvania so evenly matched."

One thing, however, is certain, Casey said: "With seven weeks in the state, it won't be drive-by campaigning."

With so much time in one place without another critical primary in play, "the candidates could even come into your living room," said pollster and political analyst G. Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College.

Critical battlegrounds in the state, several political analysts said, will include Philadelphia's suburbs. Philadelphia, many believe, will come out for Obama, while Pittsburgh and its suburbs, as well as the so-called "T" in central and northern parts of Pennsylvania - a more conservative area - will likely favor Clinton.