Don't expect Montgomery and Bucks Counties to figure too prominently in the news conference scheduled for 9:30 this morning at the Capitol East Wing Rotunda in Harrisburg.

State figures show registered Democrats have overtaken registered Republicans in those two counties for the first time in decades.

So far the Republican reaction to such seismic change has been along the lines of: Let's see if it lasts past the Obama/Clinton row. Experts have largely credited that battle - particularly its historic potential in that the winner will either be the first woman or first African American Democratic presidential nominee - for the statewide surge in Democrats who have registered to participate in the April 22 primary.

The Republicans can't even brag about voter registration in old faithfuls Chester and Delaware Counties. The GOP has lost its dominance there, too - but not to Democrats. It has been outregistered by a combination of Democrats, independents, and other party affiliations.

Contact staff writer Diane Mastrull at 610-313-8095 or dmastrull@phillynews.com.