I don't think anyone could have foreseen that the Democratic race would remain this close after Super Tuesday. Even with MSNBC calling California for Clinton (with only 15% counted -- did we not learn something from Missouri?), it's difficult to say that anyone truly "won" the day. Clinton, to be sure, won some big-ticket blue states tonight: New York, New Jersey, … [Read more...] about The Upshot: Democratic Edition
Clinton And McCain Lead In Early California Returns
CNN's election center shows that with 10 percent of the vote in, Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator John McCain are ahead in their parties' respective 2008 Presidential nomination primaries. This obviously could change throughout what some expect will be a long night of counting -- a night that could actually extend beyond the night due to mail-in … [Read more...] about Clinton And McCain Lead In Early California Returns
CNN’s Schneider: Baggy Eyed Democrats And GOP Conservative Disunity Tonight
As the votes for an unprecedented Super Tuesday are now being counted, there seem to be two realities, according to CNN's Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider: Republican conservatives are disunited and the Democrats are in for a long, long night (as are bloggers): The first round of exit polls from Republican and Democratic primaries across the country are providing … [Read more...] about CNN’s Schneider: Baggy Eyed Democrats And GOP Conservative Disunity Tonight
Should Mitt Romney Make Way for Mike Huckabee?
Conventinal wisdom says that Mike Huckabee has hurt Mitt Romney's presidential bid. The notion is that Huck denies Romney the votes of true conservatives. But tonight, MSNBC polling shows that among evangelical Protestants, a core constituent group among Republicans, the vote was roughly evenly split among Romney, Huckabee, and John McCain, each polling about 30%. One … [Read more...] about Should Mitt Romney Make Way for Mike Huckabee?
McCain Wins Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut Primaries With Moderates
Early returns suggest Arizona Senator John McCain has picked up some early victories with the help of moderates at the same time that the Democratic Presidential nomination race is showing some voting along racial lines. News reports say primaries have been called in Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut so far in favor of McCain. He's getting moderates votes but is clearly … [Read more...] about McCain Wins Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut Primaries With Moderates
Early Results: N.Y. And Massachusetts For Clinton And Illinois And Georgia For Obama
Early returns suggest it's going to be a long night and that when it's over the Democratic race for the 2008 Presidential nomination will be far from over: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York took two of the big early prizes Super Tuesday in a coast-to-coast struggle for delegates in the grueling Democratic campaign, winning Massachusetts and her home state of New … [Read more...] about Early Results: N.Y. And Massachusetts For Clinton And Illinois And Georgia For Obama
Mitt Romney, Populist (Fighting for “the Heart & Soul” of the Republican Party)
Romney is proving an expert at reinventing himself and reframing his positions as his campaign rolls along. I imagine if he gets the nomination he'll be an expert in reinventing himself again. Judging by the number of voters who seem drawn to John McCain, it seems as if he'll have to moderate his message, however much this might distress the party hardliners who are … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney, Populist (Fighting for “the Heart & Soul” of the Republican Party)
On the Front Lines of Democracy
I took a day of vacation today so I could work outside a polling place on behalf of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures (MCLC), the driving force behind the passage of Missouri's pro-stem-cell Amendment 2 in November 2006. This group did not have a referendum on today's ballot, but they are concerned about a potential referendum this fall, through which … [Read more...] about On the Front Lines of Democracy
Polish Security Must Be Assured Before We Accept U.S. Missile Shield Base
While in recent days, the news has been that Poland has accepted the stationing of a base of missile interceptors as part of America's anti-missile shield, according to this op-ed from columnist Roman KuŸniar of Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, the debate inside Poland continues, and it still isn't clear how it will turn out. KuŸniar writes, 'The compensation should be calculated not … [Read more...] about Polish Security Must Be Assured Before We Accept U.S. Missile Shield Base
She “Thicks Men’s Blood with Cold”: Hillary Derangement Syndrome
I like Hillary Clinton. Although my heart belongs to John Edwards, I voted for her as the candidate most likely to succeed, and even succeed superbly, at the thankless damn task that cleaning up after George W. Bush is likely to prove. After all, it's not a job for someone who can't deal with being hated. But what a lot of people are saying now is that Hillary is too hated … [Read more...] about She “Thicks Men’s Blood with Cold”: Hillary Derangement Syndrome
Poll: Hillary Clinton Fends Off Obama Challenge In California
We gave you the results of a Zogby poll earlier that puts Barack Obama ahead so now here are the results of a Survey USA Election Poll that puts Senator Hillary Clinton way ahead: Clinton Appears to Blunt Late Obama Charge in California: 24 hours till votes are counted in the California Democratic Primary, Hillary Clinton appears to fend-off a late charge from Barack … [Read more...] about Poll: Hillary Clinton Fends Off Obama Challenge In California
“The McCain Mutiny”
That's what Howard Kurtz at WaPo calls it. First we got Coulter promising with a straight face to campaign for Hillary if McCain wins. Now Rush Limbaugh is saying that he'd rather see Clinton or Obama win the presidency than John McCain, despite Bob Dole's plea for sanity on the party's far right. Too bad, Bob Dole. That ship sailed a long time ago. When … [Read more...] about “The McCain Mutiny”
Barack Obama for President
It has been a long time coming, but, with Super Tuesday now upon us, and with John Edwards out of the race, and with Al Gore never in it, I have come to support Barack Obama for president. He is the right choice to lead the Democrats into the election and to guide the country through the years ahead. This is my personal endorsement -- not the official endorsement of TMV … [Read more...] about Barack Obama for President
Poll: Obama And Romney Ahead In Delegate-Rich California
A new Zogby poll contends Democratic Senator Barack Obama has pulled into a 13 point lead over Senator Hillary Clinton in California's 2008 Democratic Presidential primary -- and Republican former Gov. Mitt Romney has taken the lead in the GOP contest. A cautionary note (again): polls this year have been less-accurate than weather forecasters. But here's what Zogby has … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama And Romney Ahead In Delegate-Rich California
One-line summaries for presidential candidates
From one of my favorite Ohio bloggers, Clark Street Blog: Terse summarizations of the candidates/campaigns so far: DEMOCRATS OBAMA: Hope with me, dream with me, believe in me, vote for me. CLINTON: Is the applause meter on? EDWARDS: I am in this until the end. The END! Okay, never mind. DODD: I would like to share some thoughtful remarks on some important … [Read more...] about One-line summaries for presidential candidates
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
NOTE: This is a special SUPER TUESDAY edition of our famous Around The Sphere link-fest where we offer readers links to weblogs of differing viewpoints and give you our comments on the issues raised. Links do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of TMV or its co-writers. A MUST READ TODAY of all days. Political scientist Steven Taylor's Toast-O-Meter. Who's baking … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
The Edwards Factor: Absentee Votes That Won’t Count
Has anyone speculated on how many of the millions of absentee ballots that have been cast across the Super Tuesday states were cast for John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Bill Richardson or Dennis Kucinich, all of whom have withdrawn from their party's race for the presidential nomination? This article outlines the mess in New Jersey, where some counties are … [Read more...] about The Edwards Factor: Absentee Votes That Won’t Count
This Just In! Huckabee Divine Stimulus Shocker
Satire from Andy Borowitz: Huckabee Asks Jesus to Stimulate Economy Loaves, Fishes Key to Package In what many political observers are calling an attempt to shore up his evangelical base on the eve of the nation’s Super Tuesday primaries, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee today asked Jesus Christ to stimulate the U.S. economy. Mr. Huckabee has invoked Jesus’ … [Read more...] about This Just In! Huckabee Divine Stimulus Shocker
Stupor Tuesday
If you haven't started the day with a headache, chances are you'll end with one. The mathematics of today's primaries would stupefy Einstein--super delegates, bonus delegates, caucuses, district splits, threshold percentages... Last night Keith Olbermann and reporter David Shuster started out to explain it all and ended up in Abbott and Costello's Who's-on-First routine. … [Read more...] about Stupor Tuesday
My Two Cents
I live in the St. Louis metro area, a.k.a., the Bi-State Area, so dubbed for the expanded market's position straddling the Mississippi River, mostly in Missouri (where the anchor city resides) but with a growing portion of the DMA's population in Illinois. My pedestrian advice to frustrated Republicans in this area was published on the op-ed page of today's St. Louis … [Read more...] about My Two Cents