If the judge were going to rule for the default judgment he would have done that the first day.
The judge discussed this with the parties on the 26th. The plaintiffs argued for NOT ruling for a default judgment, as the judge was inclined to do. They wanted the evidence to be admitted, and preferably to eventually have a judgment on the merits of the evidence. The judge was sympathetic to their wishes, perhaps since after all the other party didn’t show, and if anything showed contempt for the process.
And yes if there had been a default judgment the Obama team could have appealed then dragged out the process until after the primary since under law he would have then been reinstated on the ballot pending outcome of the appeal.
If there is an eventual ruling on the merits then Obama could be in trouble in all 50 states. His strategy for a default ruling will have backfired.
I think the idea was that there will still be a default judgment issued and the arguments were being put “on the record” so to speak, not the judge is ruling on merits.