New Hampshire Primary Open Thread

From the Political Radar:

New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan told ABC News that turnout among primary voters today is "absolutely huge" -- and there are concerns about running out of ballots in towns like Portsmouth, Keene, Hudson and Pelham.

"Turnout is absolutely huge and towns are starting to get concerned that they may not have enough ballots," Scanlan said. "We are working on those issues. Everything else seems to be going smoothly."

That's good news.

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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracts. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy

That bodes well for the country, I think. Huge voter turnout is an awesome thing. :)

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

That is an approximation.

We all know someone working in Manchester. I'm sure he and his team are responsible for this turnout. :) Just positive of it.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

Early exit polls

Issues - Economy 36%
Iraq - 32%
Health care - 27%

Repubs also said Economy and Iraq numbers one and two

Dems said voted for candidates for their issues while Republicans voted for candidates for leadership and personal qualities.

Also, many saying they made their minds up today - so pre-election polls might not be accurate. Hmmmmm (I think they just want us to keep watching instead of assuming Obama has run away with this thing.)

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

I'm ready.

The last two days have been hellish. Of course, if they'd been unbearable I'd be snuggling up with some Jose Cuervo....not dark rum. :)

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

So far there's 15 people here and we're enjoying pizza, wings, etc...
We're all expecting to be able to celebrate later, but I haven't seen any alcohol yet.. LOL
We're also running out of phones to make calls with, a lot of people will be hearing from us tonight!

Left on 49

Chris Cillizza has it at The Fix.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

I do not enjoy watching Donna Brazile. Not at all. Of course, I don't usually enjoy watching any of the CNN talking heads.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

n/t

This is horrifying, sad, scary and just plain flat wrong, but this quote from CNN comments should give you an idea of just what Obama would have to combat in the general election. I read somewhere that Hillary was having to put up with chants of "Iron my shirt" in New Hampshire. This, however, is a bit worse.

connie s, ferrell January 8, 2008 6:57 pm ET
cnn blogs. doesn`t one who has converted change ones` name? obama still holds islamic name, according to scriptures name change is signifying heart change! consider acts in bible or will you wait till kills your babies……saul changed to paul, example abram to abraham. i think he said he will line every islams pocket as well…

You will find the comment section here.

36% Clinton
36% Obama
17% Edwards

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

n/t

38% Clinton
35% Obama
17% Edwards

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

being reported by the Concord Monitor. Hmmmmm

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

So far all reports I heard/read were that Obama was running away with New Hampshire. Obviously that could still happen. My question is...what if it doesn't? Does this hurt him more than it would have since so many reports had him leading by double digits?

This stuff is not good for my nervous system.

Left on 49

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

Here are some numbers:
Some town-by-town numbers (refresh for updates):

Clinton 2,681, Obama 1,732 in 4 of 12 Manchester wards

Obama 2,807, Clinton 1,933 -- Portsmouth total

Clinton 335, Obama 327 in Chester

Clinton 2,901, Obama 2,772 -- Dover total

Obama 2,048, Clinton 1,479 in 4 of 5 Keene wards

Clinton 2,146, Obama 1,697 in 5 of 6 Rochester wards

Clinton 980, Obama 637 in 4 of 5 Somersworth wards

Clinton 578, Obama 374 in Epping

Wow....she's carrying Manchester it appears....

13% reporting and it's

40% Clinton
35% Obama
17% Edwards

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

Hey...at least I asked. :)

Why was Tom Delay on TV while I was making french toast this evening? Is the statute of limitations on villainy so brief these days?

surge (he'd like that) has taken some of the wind from Obama's sails.

Person County Democrats

Looking at the exit polls and breaking them down, this is going to be extremely close. Although they don't release total exit polls (final numbers) they are easy to project. If the polls are right, it going to be about a 1% race. Of course those polls are always a little bit off. We will see how it goes as the night develops.

Clinton 40%
Obama 36%
Edwards 17%

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

40% Clinton
34% Obama
17% Edwards

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

folks here at Obama HQ are saying that the strongest Obama areas in NH haven't reported yet, but it's definitely closer than I had hoped for.

Left on 49

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

http://www.politico.com/nhprimaries/nhmap-popup.html

I see that Obama is starting to make a move. These numbers had better start moving. Certainly those urban areas where Clinton should be strong should report sooner, but we will see. I have always heard campaigns claim that there numbers aren't in yet. Sometimes these claims are true, and sometimes they are not. I have been paging through the results by counties and have noticed that several large areas have reported in heavily for Hillary and have nearly 100% reporting. That certainly would seem t support the Clinton precincts reporting in first.

One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Tighter still.

I'm going to go ahead and predict that Obama pulls this out. But regardless, the closeness means we won't have a coronation after two small states vote. Despite rooting strongly for Obama at this point, I think that's a good thing. I really like Obama, but I don't want to nominate him unless he can handle himself in an electoral scrap.

Come on, people, count the freakin' votes. They do teach you how to count up there, don't they? :)

Where there was a lovely fire as well as MSNBC.com.

Edwards about to speak.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

n/t
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

I'm leaving behind about a dozen nervous volunteers here at Obama HQ in Rock Hill, SC. I need to go though because i still have to drive an hour and 15 mins to get home.
Looks like I need to work my behind off the next couple of weeks. SC Primary on january 26th!

Left on 49

I'm not a supporter but you have to give credit where it's due. Amazing turn around for Hillary and her camp.

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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracts. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy

Sayonara pollsters. You've melted my brains for the last time this year.

Well I guess they wrapped it up while i was driving home.
Seems like the women came through big for Hillary. I guess a little crying can help you get a lot of votes with Democratic women.

*runs for cover*

I jest!

Seriously though, there's a lot of work to be done in South Carolina now. Wanna join Me? I promise it's fun!

Left on 49

I agree with persondem - the longer this country takes both HRC and Obama seriously, the better off we all are. I don't want to see this end just yet. I also think this throws the Republicans for a loop. I'm happy to keep them guessing a little while longer.

This is a nice look at what might have happened in New Hampshire. This person hasn't decided on a candidate yet, so no attacks or digs.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

I'm glad that Hillary pulled it out, even though I'd rather vote for Edwards or Obama in the general election. Our nominee shouldn't be decided by one or two states, or crowned by the media.

That said - I was captivated by Obama's speech - so much so that I said (and fellow West Wingnuts will understand) "Aaron Sorkin must be writing his speeches". Nope. Here's an interesting article about the young man who puts Obama's words into speeches. It's a great read.

Jon Favreau has the worst and the best job in political speechwriting. His boss is a best-selling author who doesn't really need his help, having written the 2004 speech that catapulted him onto the national stage. At the same time, the same boss also happens to be capable of delivering a speech in ways that can give his audience the goosebumps.

But Barack Obama is more than a little busy campaigning across Iowa and New Hampshire right now. So it was Favreau who led the team that wrote Obama's victory speech in Des Moines last week—a moment that prompted the TV pundits to drop months of skepticism about Obama's candidacy to make breathless comparisons with the Kennedy era.

For Favreau, a 26-year-old jean-clad staffer (who is no relation to the comedian of "Swingers" fame) who worked in Obama's senate office, the contrast with the 2004 election could not be starker.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

Seems I'm becoming famous in my old home country of Belgium now.
Apparently the press was looking for a Belgian that's involved in the primaries here and a national news paper found me.
Today an interview with me appeared in that paper and apparently journalists read eachothers papers.
So since then I had to do an interview with the national belgian press agency and another one with the belgian world broadcasting service.
The problem was that some of them forgot there was a 6 hour time difference and they started calling me at 7 am this morning...pfffft
I'm sure I didn't sound too cheerful.

Left on 49

My understanding of the BeNeLux countries has just been turned upside-down.

I'm going to have to leave work early so I can absorb this revelation in a calmer environment. :0

Dutch language in the North; French language in the South.

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