NC Definitely in Play May 6

Submitted by gregflynn on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:18pm.

As I write the PA returns have passed 60% of districts and the spread in the Democratic Presidential Primary has settled down to Clinton 54% Obama 46%, an 8% margin (which was my own personal prediction) for Clinton who is now addressing supporters. So no surprises, except perhaps this strange image from the Pennsylvania Department of State Elections Information site earlier tonight:

gregflynn's blog
Login or register to post comments

Paul and Huckabee still getting votes

Submitted by gregflynn on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:25pm.

According to Philly.com Half-Time Report

With 50% of the vote counted in the Pennsylvania primary, Hillary is winning 54-46%.

Over on the Republican side, official nominee John McCain is pulling in 72% of the vote while Ron "Send a Message to John McCain" Paul is showing a handsome 16% of the vote, as compared to Mike Huckabee's 12%. Maybe the Democrats aren't the only party with some rift-healing to do

We are definately in play. If an actor like

Submitted by persondem on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:35pm.

Sean Astin will take the time to come to Person County (yes, Person County) to speak on a presidential candidate's behalf, as he did tonight, then we are ON - THE - MAP - BA-BEEEE!!!!!

We had a great crowd and a host of candidates and surrogates speaking for candidates and all levels. A special nod to Pat Smathers and his wife for having to suffer through a 4+ hour drive to get back home after he spoke.

Maybe whining about being overlooked helped a bit. :)

Person County Democrats

It's not whining if it works!!

Submitted by captsfufp on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 9:35am.

Continue to be that squeaky wheel!

NC will STOP the HRC campaign

Submitted by Kowalski Lives on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:51pm.

It's time for the clinton circus to come to a close. We will do that. Yes, we can.

gw bush hates the internet because Al Gore INVENTED IT!

No!

Submitted by panningforgold on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:39pm.

Let all voters speak. The popular vote must count!

She has won all the states needed to win a presidential election by double digit margins.

Cute USSR flag, you are probably in the contingency of Karl "pee-in-your-pants if Hillary wins" Rove camp because YOU also know Hill will bring crossover voters all-over and may be the most popular president ever!

She just won a swing state by 10% despite being outspent 3-1, what does this mean?

And just one question, how in the hell does Barack get as many pledge delegates for winning states like Mississippi and Utah, as Hillary gets for winning Ohio, the one state that would have made Al Gore and/or John Kerry president?

Because the people did speak.

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 12:09am.

And just one question, how in the hell does Barack get as many pledge delegates for winning states like Mississippi and Utah, as Hillary gets for winning Ohio, the one state that would have made Al Gore and/or John Kerry president?

Here. This explains it better than I can at this hour.

PROPORTIONAL PRIMARY
Seeing the WINNER-TAKE-ALL primary as unfairly reducing the input of significant minority factions within the party in the presidential nominating process, the McGovern-Fraser reforms of the early-to-mid 1970's successfully promoted the so-called "PROPORTIONAL" type of primary as an alternative to be used in the Democratic Party's nomination process. In the PROPORTIONAL type of presidential preference primary, the district delegates are apportioned among the top vote-getters in each (usually congressional, but occasionally state legislative) district while the at-large delegates are apportioned among the top vote-getters statewide by the percentage of the vote received above a certain threshold (most often 15 percent: a figure actually mandated by the rules of the Democratic Party since 1992). This is the system used by the vast majority of the states holding presidential primaries in the Democratic Party; the Republican party (where WINNER-TAKE-ALL primaries are still permitted) uses it in far fewer states than the Democrats and, in the vast majority of these, the GOP usually started using the PROPORTIONAL type only because Democrat-dominated State Legislatures of the mid-to-late 1970's passed laws forcing both parties to use this type of presidential preference primary. The major difference between the two parties' PROPORTIONAL primaries is in the thresholds used by the Republicans, which can vary from as much as 20 percent or more to as little as virtually 0 percent. (as noted below, the Democrats are currently required by party rules to use a 15 percent threshold in all their PROPORTIONAL primaries).

And - please try to refrain from calling other members names like you did in the above post. Even if you really disagree with someone, it's not how we play here.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

what does her 8 pt win in PA mean?

Submitted by lauraroslin on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 1:30am.

That she lost a huge portion of her 30 point advantage.

That she didn't get the double digit lead that she needed to show she was pulling ahead.

Hillary Clinton is the name recognition candidate, and undecideds will vote for the name.

Many of them are completely unaware of the dirty campaign she is running, or of her many lies, or that her campaign advisor and her husband both were working for trade deals with Colombia that she portended to oppose.

THe entire Ed Rendell machine endorsed her, and still she didn't win by double digits.

PA was hers to win, lots of white senior citizens and Rush Limbaugh fans. The youth leave because there isn't the in state tuition break.

The jobs long left this rust belt.

She has won fewer states, fewer votes, fewer delegates and she has taken up with neo con Richard Mellon Scaife, who has been attacking her opponent for her.

She would have to win every single up coming contest with 60% of the vote in order to surpass Barack Obama.

As it is, he's making her spend all of her money to the point that she is in debt, and he has $40 million on hand.

My bad

Submitted by panningforgold on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 2:01am.

But the Soviet flag is offensive to me?
What about Casey? (just like the Kennedys)
Talkin offensive, your description of Penn. is like a right-winger describing Massachusetts. lay off a bit please.
If Obama cannot get as many primary votes as Hillary its not the end of the world, nor it is the fault of the struggling people of this "rust belt," once again please have more respect.
And Obama is this year's money candidate, but the winner should not be based on how much money they have, but the votes they have.

Money is important

Submitted by funmerlin on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 9:40am.

His ability to excite voters and raise record amounts of money from millions of small donors is yet another plus to his campaign. If you're talking personal wealth, Clinton and McCain dwarf Obama's money(mainly his book revenue).

In this case, Obama took a state with unfavorable demographics, where he was down by 19 points in the poles last month, and ate into Clinton's lead by pulling some of those demographics his way. He outspent her, but isn't that what you want a candidate to do? Spend the money they have raised for that purpose?

Speaking of the Soviet Union, I heard his strategy compared to how the US defeated the USSR, by bankrupting them with an arms race. Obama forced Clinton to spend as much money as she could in Penn to keep her lead, limiting what she could spend in NC and Indiana next month.

Money will make us competitive against McCain in November. Pretend this was a qualifying lap for a race in November, and Clinton continued running out of gas, while Obama had a team of mechanics waiting to fill him up after every lap. Isn't that the driver you'd pick for that race?

"the winner should not be based on how much money they have..."

Submitted by bchriste80 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:03am.

And Obama is this year's money candidate, "but the winner should not be based on how much money they have, but the votes they have."

I agree. So, since Barack will almost certainly finish the primary with more states won, more popular votes won, and more delegates won, well, we'll have our winner.

Offensive indeed

Submitted by Kowalski Lives on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:40pm.

I find that the White House is occupied by a band of war criminals. Perhaps you prefer the US flag? The U.S. now engages in TORTURE, SECRET ARRESTS, confiscation of private property without due process, an attitude within the Executive branch that demonstrates disdain for long revered and established Constitutional principles. The cheney/bush regime's demonstrated lack of respect for the concept of 'rule of law' is as well documented as it is appalling. We have a government that engages in unprovoked illegal invasions of third world countries that have neither attacked nor threatened us. The deeply fraudulent and criminal cheney/bush regime has very nearly succeeded in destroying what used to be the United States of America. How is America any different now from the worst aspects of the former Soviet Union? The U.S. now holds the dubious distinction of incarcerating a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country, industrialized, third world, or otherwise.

The clintons while in office enacted and shepherded NAFTA, the dismantling of the meager social safety net for its citizens with the active participation of GOP right wing congressional operatives. We have the clintons to thank for 'extraordinary rendition'. Bill Clinton was also responsible for the dreadful and disastrous 1996 Telecommunications Act.

I find the clintons to be corporatists, militarists, and entirely too cozy with the bush family. Bill Clinton really appears to find hanging out with the bush family appealing. It's not surprising I suppose, when one considers that the elder statesmen of the Democratic Party, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore, (both Nobel Peace Prize winners) won't give bill clinton the time of day. The clinton's sense of entitlement rivals that of the bush family, and Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as her husband like nothing better than to bask in self-aggrandizement. They are obstacles to a more enlightened and more progressive society. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

gw bush hates the internet because Al Gore INVENTED IT!

I'm confused...

Submitted by captsfufp on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 9:38am.

Are you really saying the reasons to admire the Obama campaign is that Penn. voters are ignorant, and he has way more money?

...remember when we all used to be progressives?

...and she did win by double digits. :)

Technically, not double digits

Submitted by funmerlin on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:01am.

There seems to be some confusion about this, but the official number looks to be closer to 9%.

http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ has the number at 8 something, but maybe there's a mistake there.

I've seen on CNN that the number was 9.4% difference. But honestly in the end, there's not a meaningful difference between any of those numbers. The bottom line is that Clinton wasn't able to get a big enough win to make her competitive in delegates, and probably not popular vote if things continue as polls are showing. This thing will stretch on until at least NC, but thats good for us!

Seems like the State

Submitted by Leslie H on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:14am.

Board of Elections site would be more accurate than CNN, but you never know. That site currently shows the Clinton/Obama spread at 8.6%. Nonetheless, I've been hearing "won by double digits" all over the radio this morning. I know most journalists won't claim to be math nerds, but don't computers in news rooms have calculators on them?

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

In media's interest to keep it going...

Submitted by funmerlin on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:24am.

I try not to put on tinfoil hats, but it does seem like some are trying to make things seem closer than they really are? ;-)

Four of Nine is right (hopefully)...

Submitted by bchriste80 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 9:58am.

NC will put an end to the slime bucket campaign that the ultimate political opportunist has put together. All your cash is drying up Hillary. Your big donors are maxed out. You're not gonna win pledged delegates. Only the supers can save you now. Sure, let the people continue to vote, but after the primaries are over, take your ball and go home.

How I look forward to the day of seeing Hillary on the cover of the paper, dropping out of the race. It may just deserve a frame.

Oh dear

Submitted by Brunette on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:11am.

That sounds a tad obsessive, doesn't it? I mean, I am not a fan of Bev Perdue, but would I frame her face and throw darts at it? Nooooo. Were she to prevail in the primary (and it looks to me that she will), I'd have to support her over the GOP alternative.

Geez, it sounds as though you literally hate Hillary, which is just icky and creepy. This jeering you're doing has kind of a cartoon quality -- like you were riding with Snidely Whiplash on the way to tying Hillary up on a railroad track and you were both cackling evilly.

Personally, I think that if Hillary were President she would do an excellent job. I think she has all the right stuff, and I don't think of a slime bucket when I see her image.

Were she to prevail in the primary...

Submitted by bchriste80 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:30am.

"Were she to prevail in the primary (and it looks to me that she will)"

Pray tell, may I ask how exactly you think she's going to win this primary???

That's referring to Beverly.

Submitted by Brunette on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:36am.

I'm sorry if that were not clear in my post. I was comparing your vitriol about Hillary to mine about Beverly. I do think Beverly has the edge in the primary with Moore.

P. S. I love it when people use "pray tell." It's soooo "Fractured Fairytales" (for those who remember).

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke

In that case...

Submitted by bchriste80 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:41am.

Excuse me.

Fractured Fairytales!

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 11:24am.

I loved them!

Brunette please tell me you're coming on Sun.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

I don't think so

Submitted by Brunette on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 11:33am.

I have to prepare for an out of town visitor (my Dad), who will be taking me to the JJ banquet, and for whom I wish to present a reasonably tidy household.

Also, given the tenor -- not to mention content -- of recent exchanges I do not have the impression that my presence would be entirely welcome. It would be bad form on my part to impose on what might otherwise be a gathering of more likeminded bloggers.

(I *still* think I'm the most liberal of the bunch, but you know how it is with perspective)

I would welcome you with a

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 11:42am.

I would welcome you with a smile, a hug if you're a huggy kind of person, and a glass of wine if there is any left in the bottles I bring. I'd love to see you.

At any rate - I will be in the cheap seats at the JJ dinner. Maybe we can find a way to talk face to face then. If not then, another time.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

Bru, I wish you'd come to the blogger bash.

Submitted by Leslie H on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 12:47pm.

:) After May 6 we're all on the same team and I'd love to meet you, introduce myself and get to know you ... flesh and blood. Hope you find your way to make it!!

But I'll be at JJ in the cheap seats like a lot of other blueNCer's.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

OOohhhh!

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:11pm.

Maybe we can have our own BlueNC Peasant section! :)

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

yay! :)

Submitted by Leslie H on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:15pm.

We'll need signs.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

We can do that.

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:25pm.

I saw on the NCDP website that you have to pick up your tickets at HQ in Raliegh. Is that right? I kind of expected to have something emailed or mailed to me. Is HQ open on Saturday? Does anyone know? (Jerimee?)

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

I thought about going to JJ, but only for about

Submitted by persondem on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:09pm.

3 seconds. I went in 2007, but I think this year the glass walls will be up. I hope you folks have fun in the cheap seats, really, but you might end up feeling like outsiders looking in. I hope not.
I fear the "show" will be on, but the players will be limited to the folks who write big checks.
Might be worth it for the speakers. Who knows. I just have no desire this year to be a part of it.
Just occurred to me that this could be the last JJ, or last dinner named JJ.

Enjoy.

Person County Democrats

I am going to hear the Presidential candidates

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:52pm.

I only bought tickets after they announced that the debate was definitely canceled. It was too much for me to pass up a chance to hear the next President of the United States. And Hillary Clinton, too.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

That to me is definately worth the price, but

Submitted by persondem on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 8:50pm.

after last year, it will be different from the JJ I remember. I applied to be a delegate for Obama so I can certainly sympathize with ...

It was too much for me to pass up a chance to hear the next President of the United States. And Hillary Clinton, too.

I want to hear about it.

Person County Democrats

You've got it, PD.

Submitted by Linda on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 12:44am.

That's a promise.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

You'd be entirely welcome.

Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:30pm.

Please come and bring your Dad!

Thanks James!

Submitted by Brunette on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:25pm.

That's very kind, and much appreciated.

I can't bring him because he won't be here yet. The challenge is getting the place ready for his arrival.

But you've brightened my evening, and I'll ponder it hard.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke

I don't hate the woman...

Submitted by bchriste80 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:24am.

Your post is laughable. What jeering am I doing, beyond stating the obvious??? Sure, stating that I'd like to frame the front page "Hillary Drops Out," may sound a bit obsessive, but to think I would actually do so, would be foolish. Some things on the internets still do contain small amounts of sarcasm.

On the other hand, I certainly do think of a slime bucket when I see her image. Not her face, her mullet, or her constant stiff voice :::insert me "cackling evilly:::: ....but her campaign for President. I'm not alone, and NC voters will make sure she knows that in a couple weeks.

Muahhahhaha!!!

Submitted by Brunette on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:33am.

You mean laughable like when the wicked villain strokes his waxed moustache and goes 'Muahahahahaha!" That kind?

Please don't think I don't recognize sarcasm. I do. But I'm not sure you recognize jeering when you write it. It involves standing in front of a picture of one's "enemy," shaking a fist and gloating over his/her impending demise.

I'm teasing you. Please don't take it oh so seriously.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke

Mind made up for sure

Submitted by speedbugy on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 5:20pm.

After just seeing Perdue and Obama hugging on the news my mind and 7 others that I know of. I dont like Richard Moore, but if Perdue backs Obama there is no way. The guy from Charlotte will get my vote for sure. If Obama won't salute the American Flag will Perdue ?. What Flag will we have next year if they win, probably will look similar to Iran's....my 2 cents worth

Two cents

Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 5:24pm.

is way more than your comment is worth. If you want to peddle right-wing lies about the patriotism of Barack Obama, please go somewhere else. This comment is bullshit.

I'm sure you wear a flag lapel pin ALL the time?

Submitted by LiberalNC on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 5:52pm.

No? Traitor!

I sure will not be a part of

Submitted by speedbugy on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 6:08pm.

I sure will not be a part of a communist party. You can count on that.

Why not?

Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 6:31pm.

Parties are a ton of fun. Go by, spend a few minutes, check out the beer selection before you say no.

"Keep the Faith"

My goodness

Submitted by Sam I am on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:14pm.

who peed in speedbugys wheaties

HaHaHaHa!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by speedbugy on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:22pm.

Sorry, I saw on the news that Perdue, and since, Moore is backing Obama. I just have a problem with that. Besides, Moore especially, and Perdue got them lips like the one in there now and the one before him. I just cannot vote for anyone who can't salute or take his hat off to our flag, or tell the truth to the Bible. It's kinda like these cults you see everyday that the FBI, etc finds. The next thing we will have is cult housing, cult cars, cult food,,,,,who know where it will go from there. McCory and McCain look like the folks to me. Hey....they both got Mc in em too.

Where do you get this nonsense from?

Submitted by persondem on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:50pm.

I just cannot vote for anyone who can't salute or take his hat off to our flag, or tell the truth to the Bible.

Believing hearsay because it supports your own prejudices?

McCory and McCain look like the folks to me. Hey....they both got Mc in em too

Oh yeah, just like McDonalds represents all that is good in corporate behavior and general nutrition. $500 billion served up on the altar of an unnecessary war.

Person County Democrats