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Election Day: first polls open

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Election 2008
[What is this?]
Posted March 4, 2008 7:00 AM
The Swamp

by Jason George

It's 7 a.m., which means the first polls have opened in two states holding presidential primaries today – No, not the large, delegate-rich, media-hogging locales of Texas and Ohio.

It's time to vote in Rhode Island and Vermont!

That's right, two other states in this union are helping pick candidates today; and while they collective have less delegates than the Dallas and Cleveland metropolitan areas, they're both expecting record turnout today, as we've observed time and time again this election. Officials with the Rhode Island Secretary of State's office have even gone as far to say that they think they'll see twice the number of voters they did in 2000.

In Rhode Island, polls show Sen. Hillary Clinton ahead by about 10 points, as she's picked up the major political endorsements in the state, and is well connected and well known there. About the only in-state boldface name backing Sen. Barack Obama is his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, Chicago native and second-season basketball coach at Brown University. (Family success that Obama hopes rubs off in RI: The Brown Bears' 17-9 season is, so far, tied for the best in the school's history.)

Vermont represents a roll reversal from Rhode Island, with polls predicting an Obama landslide. (A Rasmussen poll two week ago had him up 24 percentage points.) Neither candidate has visited the state in the past two months, but both have at least phoned in interviews with local press, hoping to scoop up Green State's 15 Democratic delegates by answering questions about local matters. If you're interested in what those are – examples: an aging nuclear power plant and passport rules to cross from Canada – check out this primer from the "Burlington Free Press."

In both heavily Democratic states, McCain is expected to win most, if not all, of the 37 collective Republican delegates. (Vermont is a winner-take-all state, RI is not.)

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Comments

McCain is expected to win most, if not all, of the 37 collective Republican delegates. (Vermont is a winner-take-all state, RI is not.)

Hard to believe you can trot out endorsements from one who hates Catholics and Jews, and still recieve votes from the rightious right. I guess it all depends on "what" religion you are. There seems to be a real hate between religions. Maybe McCain can tell us which one is his favorite.


"Roll Reversal"? You mean that while in Rhode Island one can have a grinder, in Vermont you'll have to order a sub?

... and while we're at it, VT and RI have fewer delegates than the metro areas, and we'd be surprised that it's been observed "time and again" that turnout will be high in RI and VT...


Uh, Jason, Ohio is also in the eastern time zone and the polls there opened at 6:30 EST.


I'm a transplanted Chicagoan living in Rhode Island and, eventhough the state is smaller in population than Cook County, there is a "buzz" and excitement around this primary that I have never seen. 10,000 RI'ers showed up at an Obama rally this past weekend but, in all honesty, it seemed like most were there for the opportunity to take a picture rather than listen to the candidate. Clinton SHOULD pull out RI as it is about as liberal a state as I have seen.


And, uh, Jason, how about former RI Senator Lincoln Chaffee's endorsement of Obama??


YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...


sadly, the Rightist TV Media, AND the Clinton Campaign have succeeded now in halting Mr. Obama's momentum. and all for what? the best interests of the nation? - hardly!


Hiliary's only presidential experience is being married to one. All of her policies have FAILED, from Healthcare to her stance on Iraq. Who do I want answering my phone at 3a.m.? Not some woman who believes that she is mistreated because of her gender (Any idiot knows that color trumps gender any day, so take your sob story elsewhere).


Jack, Bill Clinton is not running for President. Each and every person is an individual, and if you think that voting for Hillary is voting for Bill, "You Might Be An Idiot!" Personally, I prefer Obama's lies to Hillary's lies. If you think either one of them will live up to 10% of their campaign promises, "You Might Be An Idiot!"


jacksmith, you are not doing any favors for Mr. Obama with your idiotic posts. Enough already.


You might be an idiot jacksmith, if you think equating Hillary as experience because she was next to Bill, when she had absolutely no subtantial part in anything that went on during the Clinton years, She did not even have security clearance to attend meetings let alone sit in the same room.
(why do you think she's delaying the information from being released)
And jacksmith you might be an idiot if you think Hillary's 35 years of experience amounts to being anything but a first lady not holding any elective office until becoming a New York carpetbagger.

(as compared to a 2 time State Senator and 1 term Senator. Check to Library of Congress record on any legislation Obama 157 bills Clinton 20


"sadly, the Rightist TV Media, AND the Clinton Campaign have succeeded now in halting Mr. Obama's momentum. and all for what? the best interests of the nation? - hardly!"

Boy what channels do you get on your TV? What radio and newspapers do you get? Because I would love to see any media that is "rightist"! Pleease!! Journalist do not go to business schools and have little to no clue about how the economy works in a Free Market Economy. IE - Taxes are Bad for an economy and any product worth its salt is not underwritten by the government.

The most freafull words ever spoken "I am from the government and I am here to help you...."


Still waiting for someone to seriously raise the issue of McCain's being born outside of the US therefore not a natural born citizens.


Jacksmith,
You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think a vote for Hillary is really a vote for Bill. Or are you one of the idiots who thought a vote for George W. was really a vote for the first Bush?

Hillary's economic policies are NOTHING like Bill's. She believes "we must destroy this economy to save it" is a plan. If you thought nothing could be worse than this George W. economy, study what Hillary has in mind. Clue: have you noticed her chief economic advisor isn't even an economist?

I'll stick with Obama and the responsible adults, thank you very much.


The race is NOT over until one of the candidates gets 2,025 delegates needed.

The media and voters need to do more research on Obama’s background and voting record in the Illinois senate and the US senate, now that he is the front-runner. DIG DEEP, ASK HARD QUESTIONS.

We need someone who can handle the problems facing American families, like house foreclosures, health insurance, college tuition, gas prices, foreign enemies, etc.

Ask the tough questions. Vote with our heads. Voting for president is a serious business and we CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE 4 YEARS ON SOMEONE WHO IS NOT QUALIFIED.


ATTENTION: OBAMA FINANCIAL BACKER REZKO TRIAL STARTS TODAY

MUST READ BEFORE YOU CAST THAT IMPORTANT VOTE!!! NOT ONLY DID HE GO BEHIND VOTERS BACKS AND MEET WITH CANADA AND PUBLICALLY LIED ABOUT IT!

SEE OBAMAS CONNECTION WITH SADDAM HUSSEN AND REZKO!
Land deal 'mistake' piles the pressure on Obama Mr Auchi, leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime and convicted for corruption in France, the British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions and millions of dollars to Barack Obama's fund just weeks before an imprudent land deal investigation. In addition money transfer from Nadhmi Auchi, Obama used to buy his Georgian mansion in Chicago. Mr. Auchi says the loan, through the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA, was for $3.5 million!!!. Mr. Auchi's money was made doing business with the regime of Saddam Hussein, Mr. Auchi was a leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime. A former Belgian ambassador to Luxembourg charged that a bank in Luxembourg owned principally by Mr. Auchi laundered funds -- including oil for food money -- for Saddam and other Islamic dictators. Auchi helped French and Italian firms win a huge oil pipeline contract in Iraq, chiefly by paying off Iraqi officials, according to testimony given by an Italian banker to prosecutors in Milan. In 2003, he was convicted for his role in what was then the largest scandal in French history, involving payoffs from executives of the oil company now known as Total to political figures in Spain, Germany and Africa.. The connection between Mr. Auchi and Sen. Obama is cause for great concern in the U.S. The national news media have been remarkably incurious about Sen. Obama's relationship with Mr. Rezko, and his with Mr. Auchi. The Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million -- $300,000 below the asking price -- perhaps because Mr. Rezko's wife purchased from the owner an adjacent garden plot for $625,000. (The sellers deny they offered the Obamas a discount.) The Times of London wondered where Mrs. Rezko got the money to buy the garden plot. At the time, she had a salary of $37,000 and assets of only $35,000, the Times learned. Her husband told a court that at the time he had "no income, negative cash flow, no liquid assets," the Times said. Auchi participated in more than just Rezko's pizza and property ventures, however; he also contributed to Barack Obama's campaign by donating to a 2005 fundraiser through a company of which is wife is a Director. I quote the relevant paragraph from a London Times exclusive: Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA lent money to Mr Obama's fundraiser. Fintrade's directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi's wife. Mr Auchi's spokesman declined to respond to a question about whether he was linked to this business. The donation is significant, obama is the Ill politican mentioned in the following ABC News report on the FBI affidavit filed in US Attorney Fitzgerald's case against Rezko before Obama's political godfather was arrested on Monday: According to an FBI affidavit filed in the case, Rezko sought to get a visa for Auchi to visit the United States by contacting "the same Illinois government official (Obama).


jacksmith, you must be the idiot here for the copy and paste of the same stupid post.


Hey, you might be a idiot,U
opened your mouth, we all no
who you are. EAT YOUR HEART
OUT,,, WE ALL KNOW 6+5=11,
yes we can!! go suck a egg.


Jacksmith-thank you for taking time to paste your post touting the She-Weasel.
Now go and find mommy and take your special shower together before your daddy gets home.


A lot of people hate Hillary Clinton jacksmith and they are not going to change. She is the one person who can get the Republicans to unify. So it is not an issue of who can do a good job, many think she can, it is a matter of winning and many including myself feel she comes with baggage and cannot.


why are so many americans R
so upset about the man? he's
only a man, are you scared are do you feel threaten,we
see u now and we continue to
understand,the AMERICAN,(SOO) INDIAN,we all were
told HE WERE COMMING AGIAN,HE'S HERE! YOU HAVE
A RIGHT TO BE SCARED,,U 2..


I might be an idiot!

My life-partner can also spread malicious lies since he watched me do it.

... jacksmith


Still waiting for someone to seriously raise the issue of McCain's being born outside of the US therefore not a natural born citizens.

Posted by: Gerard W. Gawalt | March 4, 2008 10:09 AM

The reason it's not an issue is because he was born on a military installation, that his father was ordered to go to.


Still waiting for someone to seriously raise the issue of McCain's being born outside of the US therefore not a natural born citizens.

Posted by: Gerard W. Gawalt | March 4, 2008 10:09 AM

The reason it's not an issue is because he was born on a military installation, that his father was ordered to go to.


Jose...I see you are using a different name today...wasn't jackie working for you anymore or did you get that operation?
No matter what name you use, your garbage is still that...garbage. Take your bigoted BS somewhere else. It's obvious by your post that you are a sandwich short of a picnic.


Jack Smith is an idiot!

Stop spamming these comment threads with your stupidity.


"HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTE SPEAKS"

IT'S R E N Z I NOT R E Z K O. GET IT RIGHT AMERICA. I'm the real politician being indicted for fraud, corruption and theft.

IT'S R E N Z I! msnbc, cnn, ZOGBY POLLS OF THE DAY!

IT'S R E N Z I!

r e z k o is the little fish in the "CULTURE OF CORRPUTION" ON CAPITOL HILL!

GET IT RIGHT. IT'S

R E N Z I, Senator Rick Renzi of Arizona, John McCains "THE CHAIRMANS" Campaign MANAGER!

R E N Z I!


jose, ever hear of this weird thing called 'punctuation'?


If being "close to Bill" is relevant experience for the Oval Office, then we should run Monica for Pres.


If Obama bring off the impossibe today then I'm Martin Luther King Jr.


If Obama bring off the impossibe today then I'm Martin Luther King Jr.


Jose : Very good posting , sure is a lot of Arab money all of sudden pouring into Barack Hussein Obama campaign. Don't worry though the American public will wake up to this fellow and his racist pastor. Giving lifetime achievement awards to other racists and anti-semites. It ain't gonna happen Jose.

ps Pay no mind to bill hussein r. he calls everybody a bigot and a racist when he's mentally constipated and doesn't know what to say.


Hi, another Rhode Islander here. I also disagree with the statement: "[Hillary Clinton has] picked up the major political endorsements in the state, and is well connected and well known there. About the only in-state boldface name backing Sen. Barack Obama is his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson..."


Just a few of the "in-state boldface names" supporting Obama include former Republican state senator Lincoln Chafee, current Democratic state senator Patrick Kennedy, Senator Edward Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and RI Attorney General Patrick Lynch.


OK, so Edward and Caroline Kennedy aren't technically "in-state," but they are genuine local celebrities. I mean, geez. For all that effort (and the fact that Obama drew twice as many people to Rhode Island College as Senator Clinton), I still expect Clinton to win here.


As for myself, I'm registered Republican so I voted for McCain.


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