Only two states have their electoral votes divided by Congressional Districts. They are Maine and Nebraska.
It seems that in Nebraska one electoral vote will go to Obama because he won one of the districts. Obama won the 2nd Congressional District. It is the first time since 1964 that an electoral vote from Nebraska has gone to a Democrat.
Now that is change.
Showing posts with label presidential election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label presidential election. Show all posts
Monday, November 10, 2008
Center Right Nation?
That's what the Republicans are calling the United States. They see that as there way back to power. In piece after piece after the Republican pasting on Tuesday is this refrain.
This from cry at the drop of the hat on the floor of the House Congressman John Boehner from Ohio:
This from Dov Zakheim a senior foreign policy adviser to the first Bush:
This from Rich Lowry of the Nation:
A couple of quick points come to mind. Just because the Republicans are saying the nation is center-right does not make it true.
The notion from Mr. Zakheim that the center-right nation he envisions exists is not bigoted well I think Mr. Zakheim needs to look at some of the people who attended McCain/Palin rallies. I think that would be an eye opener for Mr. Zakheim.
I'm not sure the country is a center-right country. I'm not sure it is a center-left country. I do know that it is moving further and further away from the center-right country it was when Bush was elected president.
Here is the problem I see for the Republicans. If this is indeed a center-right country I don't see how the Republicans appeal to people. The reason is they have become a far far far right party. There are essential few if any moderates left in the Republican Party. Most important of all they are a very very white party. All you need look at is the people who attended rallies. Or the people at the convention. They have been completely unable to broaden the Republican appeal to any minorities.
In the not too distant future minorities will be the majority. What does the Republican Party do then? How do they shed the image of grumpy, very old and very, very, very conservative white men?
This from cry at the drop of the hat on the floor of the House Congressman John Boehner from Ohio:
America is still a center-right country. This election was neither a referendum in favor of the left's approach to key issues nor a mandate for big government.
This from Dov Zakheim a senior foreign policy adviser to the first Bush:
The United States remains a center-right nation, but it is not a bigoted or small-minded one. Ours is an inclusive, generous society. It may not want too much government, but it seeks responsible and efficient government. It eschews isolationism and admires the promise of cooperation in foreign affairs. It looks to its leaders to keep their promises, but it also wants them to win over those whose votes they did not receive.
This from Rich Lowry of the Nation:
It is indeed, as conservatives have been insisting in recent days, a center-right country. The question is how to appeal to the center again.
A couple of quick points come to mind. Just because the Republicans are saying the nation is center-right does not make it true.
The notion from Mr. Zakheim that the center-right nation he envisions exists is not bigoted well I think Mr. Zakheim needs to look at some of the people who attended McCain/Palin rallies. I think that would be an eye opener for Mr. Zakheim.
I'm not sure the country is a center-right country. I'm not sure it is a center-left country. I do know that it is moving further and further away from the center-right country it was when Bush was elected president.
Here is the problem I see for the Republicans. If this is indeed a center-right country I don't see how the Republicans appeal to people. The reason is they have become a far far far right party. There are essential few if any moderates left in the Republican Party. Most important of all they are a very very white party. All you need look at is the people who attended rallies. Or the people at the convention. They have been completely unable to broaden the Republican appeal to any minorities.
In the not too distant future minorities will be the majority. What does the Republican Party do then? How do they shed the image of grumpy, very old and very, very, very conservative white men?
Saturday, November 08, 2008
The Election by the Numbers
It really wasn't all that close. At least in comparison to past elections. Obama got 53% of the vote. That is the first time a Democrat has gotten over 50% of the vote since Jimmy Carter back 1976. Obama won in every age group except for people over 65.
Eight states switched sides from 2004. Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
Only one state is still outstanding Missouri where McCain is ahead by 5,859 out of a total of almost 2.9 million votes.
McCain spent all that time in Pennsylvania yet he lost the state by 11%. Not even close. It makes you wonder what the McCain campaign saw that made them think the state could possible go their way. This was one if the few places that the Republican National Committee ran ads about Rev. Wright. Probably in retrospect not a particularly smart move.
I was surprised that Ohio went for Obama. And further surprised by the margin of 200,000. Once that was called which was around 9:30 it was only a matter of time i.e. the polls closing in the west before Obama would win.
Virginia which was close for most of the night finally was called for Obama. But again the final results were not all that close. Again Obama won by 200,000 votes. I think in the future Virginia is going to be in play. There have been two straight Democrats as governor (in Virginia the governor can only be in office for one term). There are now two Democratic senators and it went for the Democratic presidential candidate as well. It shows the huge shift towards the Democratic taken place in the suburbs around Washington, DC.
Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico are states that have been put in play too. Or better put are no longer sure Republican states. And, you have to think that if McCain had not been on the ballot in Arizona, Arizona would be in play too.
I think the Republicans have to be worried about how things will play for them in the future. Of course one election does not make a trend but places long considered Republican were in play and that should give some pause. It means the Republicans have to fight on their own turf instead of taking the battle to states that usually vote for the Democrats. It also mean the number of toss up states has expanded. And that in the long run is a good thing.
Eight states switched sides from 2004. Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
Only one state is still outstanding Missouri where McCain is ahead by 5,859 out of a total of almost 2.9 million votes.
McCain spent all that time in Pennsylvania yet he lost the state by 11%. Not even close. It makes you wonder what the McCain campaign saw that made them think the state could possible go their way. This was one if the few places that the Republican National Committee ran ads about Rev. Wright. Probably in retrospect not a particularly smart move.
I was surprised that Ohio went for Obama. And further surprised by the margin of 200,000. Once that was called which was around 9:30 it was only a matter of time i.e. the polls closing in the west before Obama would win.
Virginia which was close for most of the night finally was called for Obama. But again the final results were not all that close. Again Obama won by 200,000 votes. I think in the future Virginia is going to be in play. There have been two straight Democrats as governor (in Virginia the governor can only be in office for one term). There are now two Democratic senators and it went for the Democratic presidential candidate as well. It shows the huge shift towards the Democratic taken place in the suburbs around Washington, DC.
Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico are states that have been put in play too. Or better put are no longer sure Republican states. And, you have to think that if McCain had not been on the ballot in Arizona, Arizona would be in play too.
I think the Republicans have to be worried about how things will play for them in the future. Of course one election does not make a trend but places long considered Republican were in play and that should give some pause. It means the Republicans have to fight on their own turf instead of taking the battle to states that usually vote for the Democrats. It also mean the number of toss up states has expanded. And that in the long run is a good thing.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Circular Firing Squad
This seems to be what Republicans especially people in the McCain campaign are doing. Playing the blame game. Point their fingers at Sarah Palin. All sorts of leaks about her. That she was not very bright and incredibly ambitious.
This from a McCain aid even before the election:
I guess she doesn't know that Africa is continent not a country. I guess the list goes on and on. Campbell Brown of CNN has good column about the whole thing. The upshot being, and I happen to agree with this completely:
I am no fan of Sarah Palin. But the McCain campaign chose her. It seems they didn't do the proper job of vetting her. And yet still put forth she was qualified to be vice-president and a heart beat away from the presidency. It seems to me the idea was to do anything to win. Damn the consequences.
Thankfully the American people saw through that.
This from a McCain aid even before the election:
"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," this McCain adviser said. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else.
"Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."
I guess she doesn't know that Africa is continent not a country. I guess the list goes on and on. Campbell Brown of CNN has good column about the whole thing. The upshot being, and I happen to agree with this completely:
You are the ones who supposedly vetted her, and then told the American people she was qualified for the job. You are the ones who, after meeting her a couple of times, told us she was ready to be just one heartbeat away from the presidency.
If even half of what you say now is true, then boy, did you try to sell the American people a bill of goods. If Sarah Palin is the reason some voters chose Barack Obama, that is no one's fault but your own.
I am no fan of Sarah Palin. But the McCain campaign chose her. It seems they didn't do the proper job of vetting her. And yet still put forth she was qualified to be vice-president and a heart beat away from the presidency. It seems to me the idea was to do anything to win. Damn the consequences.
Thankfully the American people saw through that.
A Transcendent Moment
That's what Tuesday night was. It was history. It is a moment in time that will pointed to from now on as when something dramatically changed in our country.
I've been thinking about those moments that I've lived through. Here's what comes to mind"
The assassination of John F. Kennedy one of my very first vivid memories that I have.
The assassination of Martin Luther King.
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
The landing on the moon.
The resignation of Richard Nixon.
The Challenger explosion.
The Berlin Wall coming down.
9/11.
And now of course Tuesday night.
A large part of the list is tragedies. They do seem to have a larger impact of the flow of history then the triumphs. But Tuesday went beyond triumph. It wasn't only that the first African-American was elected president. It was a repudiation of an administration that attempted to destroy our very constitution. Tuesday was also the triumph of the rule of law over the trouncing of that same rule.
No matter how you look at it, it was a glorious night.
I've been thinking about those moments that I've lived through. Here's what comes to mind"
The assassination of John F. Kennedy one of my very first vivid memories that I have.
The assassination of Martin Luther King.
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
The landing on the moon.
The resignation of Richard Nixon.
The Challenger explosion.
The Berlin Wall coming down.
9/11.
And now of course Tuesday night.
A large part of the list is tragedies. They do seem to have a larger impact of the flow of history then the triumphs. But Tuesday went beyond triumph. It wasn't only that the first African-American was elected president. It was a repudiation of an administration that attempted to destroy our very constitution. Tuesday was also the triumph of the rule of law over the trouncing of that same rule.
No matter how you look at it, it was a glorious night.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Obama Rally In Northern Virginia, Election Eve
Here are some pictures from a co-worker who went to the Obama rally in Manassas on election eve.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
1:30 AM
Why what a difference a day makes.
I was hopeful that Obama would win. I never thought it would be like this.
Huge changes in the electoral map. Ohio, Virginia and Florida changing to the Democrats. He's leading by hair in North Carolina and Indiana and is just behind McCain in Missouri and Montana.
Montana!!! That more than anything shows how things have changed.
I'll have more on this tomorrow well actually today.
All I can say is every once and a while America does something really great and this is one of those times.
I was hopeful that Obama would win. I never thought it would be like this.
Huge changes in the electoral map. Ohio, Virginia and Florida changing to the Democrats. He's leading by hair in North Carolina and Indiana and is just behind McCain in Missouri and Montana.
Montana!!! That more than anything shows how things have changed.
I'll have more on this tomorrow well actually today.
All I can say is every once and a while America does something really great and this is one of those times.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
He's Won
Once it was announced Obama won, people came out on my street and cheered. I found my cow bell and took it outside and shook it long and loud. And peopled cheered even louder.
What an incredible night.
What an incredible night.
5 Minutes To Go
The polls about to close on the West Coast. When they do Barack Obama will be elected the next President of the United States.
10:20
There's sort of a lull now. Everyone is waiting for the polls in the west to close to call the race.
Chris Shays who's a Republican congressman in Connecticut lost his seat. There are now no Republican representatives in New England. Now that is a huge change. It was a rock for the Republican Party for decades. But as the Republican Party became more and more and more conservative, New England drifted away.
Chris Shays who's a Republican congressman in Connecticut lost his seat. There are now no Republican representatives in New England. Now that is a huge change. It was a rock for the Republican Party for decades. But as the Republican Party became more and more and more conservative, New England drifted away.
10:00
It's coming up on 10:00. More polls will close. Iowa will most likely go for Obama.
Virginia is very very close. Obama has a very small lead but it looks like he is slowly pulling away.
Florida is close as well but is still ahead at 51%.
North Carolina is also just as close.
Indiana is every so slightly ahead for McCain.
Things are looking very good.
Virginia is very very close. Obama has a very small lead but it looks like he is slowly pulling away.
Florida is close as well but is still ahead at 51%.
North Carolina is also just as close.
Indiana is every so slightly ahead for McCain.
Things are looking very good.
I Think It Is Over
9:35
Ohio has gone to Obama. No Republican has ever won without winning Ohio.
New Mexico has gone to Obama.
NBC puts Obama at 200 electoral votes. When the west comes in Obama is president.
Ohio has gone to Obama. No Republican has ever won without winning Ohio.
New Mexico has gone to Obama.
NBC puts Obama at 200 electoral votes. When the west comes in Obama is president.
Obama at 174
9:15
Obama is now at 174 electoral votes.
IF Obam can win Florida then he's well on the way to winning.
It is interesting that CNN is taking a long time to call states.
I am jumping from station to station see the most recent information.
How will it end? When will it end?
I'm not sure yet.
The Democrats have picked up at least three seats in the Senate: Virginia, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
Haven't hear much about the House races yet.
Obama is now at 174 electoral votes.
IF Obam can win Florida then he's well on the way to winning.
It is interesting that CNN is taking a long time to call states.
I am jumping from station to station see the most recent information.
How will it end? When will it end?
I'm not sure yet.
The Democrats have picked up at least three seats in the Senate: Virginia, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
Haven't hear much about the House races yet.
Jumping all Over the Place
8:45 I'm not staying with one station but surfing when commercials come on or I want more information.
Interesting that is took CNN so long to call Pennsylvania.
Obama has over 100 electoral votes. He needs to win a couple of those toss up states.
Florida and Ohio would be great wins.
So far things are going well but then again this has happened before so I'm not jumping up and down yet.
A new round of states coming up at 9. New York among them.
Interesting that is took CNN so long to call Pennsylvania.
Obama has over 100 electoral votes. He needs to win a couple of those toss up states.
Florida and Ohio would be great wins.
So far things are going well but then again this has happened before so I'm not jumping up and down yet.
A new round of states coming up at 9. New York among them.
Around 8:30 pm
I've been talking with people and also watching my friend's Arthur's blog from more than half way around the world. I think we are all excited but still cautiously optimistic.
I like what my friend Mark said he hopes Obama crushes McCain. He hopes McCain only wins 10 states. I don't think that will happen. At least for now fingers crossed things are looking good.
I like what my friend Mark said he hopes Obama crushes McCain. He hopes McCain only wins 10 states. I don't think that will happen. At least for now fingers crossed things are looking good.
Pennsylvania Goes for Obama
Obama has won Pennsylvania at least ABC and NBC have projected it so. The effort by McCain to turn PA has totally failed.
It is also interesting to see that all of the states not called so far have been states that usually would go Republican.
This is a very good start.
Also the thing to remember that the west coast and Hawaii bring in 74 electoral votes for Obama.
I think I'm almost breathing normally.
It is also interesting to see that all of the states not called so far have been states that usually would go Republican.
This is a very good start.
Also the thing to remember that the west coast and Hawaii bring in 74 electoral votes for Obama.
I think I'm almost breathing normally.
Lots of Talking Heads
Not a whole lot going on. So lots of talking heads without saying a great deal.
It is interesting that most of the states that are out are states that are normally Republican. The states that are usually Democratic are yet to come. McCain is ahead in the electoral college but only two states have been called.
I will say that the way ABC is showing vote totals at the bottom of the screen it is almost impossible to follow the information.
It's also interesting that everyone seems to have a touch screen to play with. This is something that CNN has pioneered.
Good news in Virginia and totally expected Mark Warner is crushing Jim Gilmore.
There's also a great deal of exit poll statistics about who voted and how they voted etc etc
It is interesting that most of the states that are out are states that are normally Republican. The states that are usually Democratic are yet to come. McCain is ahead in the electoral college but only two states have been called.
I will say that the way ABC is showing vote totals at the bottom of the screen it is almost impossible to follow the information.
It's also interesting that everyone seems to have a touch screen to play with. This is something that CNN has pioneered.
Good news in Virginia and totally expected Mark Warner is crushing Jim Gilmore.
There's also a great deal of exit poll statistics about who voted and how they voted etc etc
Election Night Blogging
I'm going to try and post during the night. It will be my reactions and how the vote totals pile up. I'm not going to say who I think will win. Not just yet anyway.
I'm hopeful. That's all I'm going to say at the presidential level. As for the Congressional level. Looks like the Democrats are going to whip the Republicans. And it's about time too. I'm not sure the Democrats will get 60 seats in the Senate. It would be nice if they did so they could get rid of Trader Joe Liberman. But then again having 60 seats might make the Democrats a little too cocky.
As we say in my family we'll see.
I'm hopeful. That's all I'm going to say at the presidential level. As for the Congressional level. Looks like the Democrats are going to whip the Republicans. And it's about time too. I'm not sure the Democrats will get 60 seats in the Senate. It would be nice if they did so they could get rid of Trader Joe Liberman. But then again having 60 seats might make the Democrats a little too cocky.
As we say in my family we'll see.
Voting
I got up early because I haven't adjusted to the change in time yet. I decided to go and vote before going to work.
I got in line around 6:35 am. I was given a number. I'm not exactly sure why but my number was 79. I'd say that by the time the polls opened at 7 there were at least 200 people in line.
The voting is done in a school's art room. The set up is not the best because there's only one door and it's a regular size door. Other than that it's fine. I was lucky that my last name fell in one of the shorter lines to check in. As the person in front of me was signing their name, I was giving the poll worker my drivers license. It sped things up considerably. Once I signed my name I went to another line to receive my ballot.
I got the ballot and then it was off to vote. The ballots we use are read by an optical character reader. What you do is link two ends of an arrow. There's the name of the person you are voting for and then the end of the arrow. There is then an empty space and then the start of the arrow. You take a number two pencil and draw a line connecting the two parts of the arrow.
Here's an example (click on it for a larger view):
I have to say I paused for a second to take in how historic a moment this was. I very carefully marked my ballot for Obama/Biden and then filled in the rest of it. I then very carefully checked my ballot to make sure I'd voted for who I want to vote for. I think took it over to the machine and put it and got my I voted sticker.
When I walked out of the school I walked passed the line of people waiting to vote. It was essentially where it had been right before the polls had opened. Again my guess there were probably around 200 people in line.
I've done my part to help elect Barack Obama president.
I got in line around 6:35 am. I was given a number. I'm not exactly sure why but my number was 79. I'd say that by the time the polls opened at 7 there were at least 200 people in line.
The voting is done in a school's art room. The set up is not the best because there's only one door and it's a regular size door. Other than that it's fine. I was lucky that my last name fell in one of the shorter lines to check in. As the person in front of me was signing their name, I was giving the poll worker my drivers license. It sped things up considerably. Once I signed my name I went to another line to receive my ballot.
I got the ballot and then it was off to vote. The ballots we use are read by an optical character reader. What you do is link two ends of an arrow. There's the name of the person you are voting for and then the end of the arrow. There is then an empty space and then the start of the arrow. You take a number two pencil and draw a line connecting the two parts of the arrow.
Here's an example (click on it for a larger view):
I have to say I paused for a second to take in how historic a moment this was. I very carefully marked my ballot for Obama/Biden and then filled in the rest of it. I then very carefully checked my ballot to make sure I'd voted for who I want to vote for. I think took it over to the machine and put it and got my I voted sticker.
When I walked out of the school I walked passed the line of people waiting to vote. It was essentially where it had been right before the polls had opened. Again my guess there were probably around 200 people in line.
I've done my part to help elect Barack Obama president.
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