North Carolina Update #4

Some counties in North Carolina have the jurisdiction to stay open a bit later if there are circumstances deeming such a move necessary.  A late start causes a polling place to stay open late in coastal Pamlico County, while a rural voter in Johnston County takes this whole "race for the presidency" thing a bit too literally...and crashes into the polling place (everyone's ok).

Comments

[Bilbo]

Well we know who doesn't have the momentum at this point. Still a chance for Obama in Indiana small though it is...

[Joe]

Hmm, I'm guessing Hillary gets a win of under 5%, but Barack seems to have a stronger lead in NC than polls had shown beforehand.

I also see in the exit polls that most people think Hillary's attacks are unfair. This is not a good day for her, but who knows? The news likes to trumpet the 'close' races and a lot of other things that don't matter. She only has to do what? Win about 75-80% of the supers (and pledged delegates) with the expected results from today?

Oh, and speaking of excessive coverage of things that don't matter, see also:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/wright-dominated-news-coverage/

He's still that strong, even after all those attacks.

[The Grand Panjandrum]

MSNBC changed Indiana from "Too Early To Call" to "Too Close To Call". If Obama loses Indiana he will lose by less than 2%. Obama actually gets a net gain in SD's tonight.

How does Clinton have a path to the nomination? Is Clinton broke? Here's Ben Smith:

"I asked Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe just now whether Clinton had given or loaned her campaign more money in the run-up to North Carolina and Indiana."

I have refrained from making this plea before, but its time for you guys (SD's) to make a decision. Time to man up, as it were.

Link to Ben Smith:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0508/Another_Clinton_loan.html

[TheSteve]

Mr. Super,

Still think momentum is playing a factor this election? If so, is it really small, or is it reverse or something? What a night this is turning out to be, huh?

[Joe]

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9167452?source=most_viewed

"John McCain took a tour of Appalachia with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, his economic adviser."

If you want more on the "McCain doesn't understand the economy" tack, here's a good one. Fiorina is widely seen in techie circles as having nearly destroyed HP.

In the mean time, it looks like the Dems will need all the time they can get to heal up after the divisiveness of the primaries. At least, assuming the exit polls can be trusted.

[Kevin]

In a previous thread you provided a reply to my question about the "Limbaugh effect". Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

But tonight in Indiana is exactly one of those nights that something like the Limbaugh effect could have an impact. Of course, I'm keeping an open mind - until I see this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/06/exit-polls-limbaugh-effec_n_100488.html.

If the effect is real, it could have kept Clinton's campaign on life support. If it's not, then Clinton's support in IN is likely soft.

[eagleye]

Hillary's 'popular vote' argument went up in smoke tonite. But I have no doubt that she'll have a new and creative metric by morning....

[Joe]

Chaos theory is getting even more press now, including some evidence drawn from exit polls:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/rush-to-judgment/?ref=opinion

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/06/obama_campaign_sends_word_from.html

Mind you, the effect is weak at best, but it might actually be able to tip a very, very close race like Indiana.

[Kasturba]

Dear Mr. Super,

What do you think? Was this a game changer?

[supergp]

Does HRC's cancellation of her press appearances tomorrow indicate she's dropping out?

[Sarah]

Note to Pelosi Club Members:

With only 33 or so pledged delegates needed for Senator Obama to secure a majority of PDs, that aspect of the race is all over but the shouting. All he needs to do is achieve viability (and therefore a guarantee of at least one delegate) in that many of the the 37 remaining delegate races (25 CD delegate races, 6 PLEO races, and 6 at-large PD races = 37 total). It's worth noting that Senator Obama has never yet failed to achieve viability in any delegate race.

[Christian]

I am a Canadian. If I could vote for Barak Obama I would!
Not because he is black, or smart, or concerned about the US in this world,
But because he has integrity, wisdom, empathy, concern for how the US is perceived worldwide.
His message is loud and clear:
Americans need to have integrity in war, wisdom
in crises, respect from other nations no matter what their government, and America needs to treat its citizens like it would like to be treated--is that not the eye for an eye?
As I said before, I would vote for him because he stands for what is noble,what needs to be said with courage and America would do far worse by selecting someone else.
People might object to this endorsement; but I say just this your country, when it acts with integrity, speaks courageously,fights for the oppressed, weak, and starving, helps selflessly, and expects other nations to come up to such lofty standards is a country to be cherished--and Barak Obama represents that ideal. His love for an America following noble values is contagious.

Go Obama Go!

[Susan]

Well Mr Super

Race is Over

Time to move...

[suekzoo]

Hello Christian,

I will thank you for your comments! In my job at a large multi-national, I work with people in 18 countries around the world, and have heard your same sentiments over and over for many months. What I think a lot of Americans don't realize is just how much attention this election is getting outside our borders, and just how seriously people in other countries are taking what our candidates are saying. And that is what draws me to support Obama. Whatever weaknesses he may have in domestic policy, he does see the bigger picture pretty clearly, and understands how our success at home is directly tied to our standing and stature around the world.

[Joe]

Yes, my contact with the international community tells me that we will be seen has having changed if we can elect Obama. Not Hillary, not McCain. That may be unfair to Hillary, but that's the sentiment by and large.

I can only hope that we end this soon. Whoever the Democratic nominee is, they need all the time they can get to work on the general. You can already see that McCain is treating Obama as the presumptive nominee (hence yesterday's attacks on the issue of conservative judges, which mentioned only Obama).

Anyhow, if it is Obama, your FIRST order of business should be to attack John "I don't really understand the economy" McCain on issues like the gas tax. Right now, that's playing out as Obama vs. Hillary, which does the Democrats no good at all.

Obama has a strong line of attack on BOTH the economy and the war. Fears of a war with Iran (which Obama would avoid), thanks to his comments, should be played up as well.

Hit hard on those, and I think you can change the tone. If they go after personal stuff, question him hard for using Rove, the same man who smeared his own adopted daughter. He touts the patriotic American bit? Show up with Panamanian flags :-)

He has plenty of unexplored weaknesses.