Primary Election Day Open Thread

i'll bite (4.00 / 2)

i will have CNN on the telly (on mute) NPR whirring in the background and the Intertubes fully engaged.

i might go to the BurlCo Dems HQ and then to CamCo.  we'll see.  it's exhausting.

I am not a drinker, but if i were tonite i might have a little nip right about now for the nervous jitters.  

i also hope turnout is uncommonly robust.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 23:36:32 PM UTC

Been blogging all day (4.00 / 1)

Surfing from site to site.  I've been pretty tense all day.  Th vote is going to be close I think.  
Polling problem in 9th Delegate District #19: I wasn't registered as a Democrat in the log although I am definitely registered as a Democrat with the board of elections in Somerset County.  I had to declare a party today after voting as a Dem for all of my life.  The poll volunteer says there were a lot of voters who had the same predicament and were forced to declare a the poll.  She said it was very unusual.  
I don't know what's up with it but I don't like it one little bit.  
I voted this afternoon.  There were no lines but the stream was steady.  Plan to watch CNN.  I'm afraid MSNBC lost my viewership when they went full tilt against Hillary.  It just seems like the thumb is on the scales too hard this season.  And I gotta wonder, what is it the corporate media is so afraid of when they go after one candidate so mercilessly?  Why is it the Republicans want to run against Obama?

"Choose something like a star to stay your mind on- and be staid"

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by: goldberry @ Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 23:58:04 PM UTC

it's after midnight (4.00 / 1)

and it's still very good theater.  anyone still watching?

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 05:47:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Missouri... (0.00 / 0)

is way close. It's great, I think. I've never heard of such enthusiasm for an election, be it a primary or a general.

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by: mariel2036 @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 05:52:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

At the pediatrician (4.00 / 4)

two little boys puking and pooping like a garden hose.  Mommy and Daddy are both sick, too.  I woke up with a 104.5 fever, chills, body aches, and a nasty cough.

It was all I could do to drag my own body to the polls.  I was number 181.  Last primary, I voted at 7pm and was number 47.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:15:27 AM UTC

rumored exit polls (0.00 / 0)

At mydd say it is very close here in NJ.  I don't think they're reliable, especially since they obviously couldn't include those who voted after work.  

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:26:21 AM UTC

One exit poll has 53-47 Obama (0.00 / 0)

I don't believe that, but I think it still will be close - I say Clinton by 5%, but I wouldn't be surprised if Obama pulls out a mega upset.

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:47:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Menendez on MSNBC right now (0.00 / 0)

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by: JRB @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:48:56 AM UTC

Menendez and Chris Matthews. It was brief, but here's the breakdown: (4.00 / 2)

On whether NJ is a bellwether for tonight: No one state will be a bellwether, this is a national race.

If NJ went for Obama would you still be a Clinton superdelegate: I made a commitment to Hillary Clinton "and will continue to do so."

When pressed on the issue: The state of New Jersey will do very well by Hillary Clinton tonight. "At the end of the day, you make a commitment you make a commitment."

To what extent will you be influenced by the voters of your state at the Democratic National Convention?: Look, there are unaffiliated voters who may have stood up for Hillary or for Barack. (I took it as he was implying that because it wasn't a pure D electorate it's up for grabs, but maybe I'm wrong/biased? We all know who is bringing in the independents and unaffiliateds). Against John McCain, I want someone who is tested. Women and Latinos gave the 2000 and 2004 elections to Bush. Hillary will get them back to the Democratic column.

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by: JRB @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:56:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

In court all day (4.00 / 7)

Took two Democratic voters to court to ask the judge for a ruling that allowed them to vote.

Successful on both counts - a 78-year old cancer patient not feeling well enough to go to the polls, and a high school student who turned 18 on January 11, mailed his voter registration on January 12 but it didn't make its way to the Hunterdon Board of Election until days past the January 15 deadline.

He just called to report that the paperwork signed by the judge was accepted at his polling place, and he just cast his first-ever vote for president.

Woo hoo!

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 00:55:12 AM UTC

CA: Is there an election? (0.00 / 0)

I went to the polling place today and there was just one other person there.  Some of my co-workers say they don't have to vote now because the polls won't close until 8 pm.  So by the time they vote, CNN will have already called the election.  Perhaps Clinton will will, since she has a great deal of the Latino vote and they may be more motivated to actually go to the polls.  The main problem in CA has been to get anyone to realize there is an election going on.  I voted for Richardson.  The whole purpose of Super Tuesday was that Iowa and NH would not tell us whom to vote for.  At least BR actually has some single payer health care going on in his state and would get the US out of a state of perpetual war.  14,700 voted for BR in Florida even after his campaign ran out of money.  

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by: proud2Bliberal @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 01:00:40 AM UTC

What's taking so long tonight? (0.00 / 0)

It's getting awfully late for so few results to be in.... right?

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by: JRB @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:02:14 AM UTC

damn (0.00 / 0)

it's looking like a thumping here in NJ.
< s igh >  

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:17:41 AM UTC

I'm sorry :-( (4.00 / 3)

Seriously, I think it will tighten up but if it doesn't, I'm really sorry.  I know how I would feel if the shoe was on the other foot.  

"Choose something like a star to stay your mind on- and be staid"

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by: goldberry @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:22:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

very nice of you to say so goldberry n/t (4.00 / 1)

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:29:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you do a weighted total for exit polls (0.00 / 0)

It's essentially tied.  (CNN exit polls)

Obama:  55 X .42 (men) + 44 X .58 (women) = 48.62%

Clinton:  42 X .42 (men) + 54 X .58 (women) = 48.96%

Also, Middlesex county is not in yet (i.e. - Rutgers), which is heavily for Obama and enthusiastic, so I'm sure we'll see this lead shrink.

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:41:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

exit polls (0.00 / 0)

don't trust the exit polls. they also predict a tie in MA....

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by: Juan Melli @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:46:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't Trust the Polls (0.00 / 0)

Don't also trust Rutgers to twist the Middlesex County vote either way. Voting when you're on campus has always been a bit more difficult than it needed to be, thanks to the powers that be in New Brunswick...

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by: storm2k @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:00:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't I know that (0.00 / 0)

We tried to get the city of NB to make polling places in the student center on College Ave., but they said no...  So student have to go into the other wards to vote, some places that aren't very nice...

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:05:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah, I know (4.00 / 1)

Dealt with that for years when I was in school. I didn't live on campus (only 15 minutes away) so it wasn't an issue for me, but I know there was a lot of effort to get that done. Sadly, the Cahill administration probably never will make it easy for students to vote because they can't control things like they can in other parts of the city.

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by: storm2k @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:33:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The important thing to remember is... (4.00 / 6)

that regardless of which democrat eventually gets the nomination (because I really feel it's going to be too close and we're not going to end up with a consensus nominee after tonight), the ideals of the true party of inclusion live on.

After the primaries, I sincerely hope we can get rid of the bad blood between the Clinton and Obama camps and not only put a democrat back in the White House but also work towards unifying the party.

And... just for the record... while I am a strong, proud Hillary supporter, I admire Obama and his volunteers for creating such a buzz and great excitement within traditionally ignored demographics. Mazel Tov.  

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by: mariel2036 @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:35:05 AM UTC

Dems have never looked more inclusive (4.00 / 3)

Republicans have never looked more old and cranky. They've lost an entire generation of young people, and that's going to be hurting them for decades.

"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." -- Emma Goldman

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by: DoctorScience @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:00:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah. (0.00 / 0)

Yeah. Yeah. I just love how that sounds. The sound of the end of the self-involved, must-have-a-McMansion and two BMW 7-series because it's my birthright as an American, Reagan Generation of folks hitting a wall at hypersonic speeds:

It's nasty, it will take a lot of cleaning up, but you know its good for the gene pool.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 05:06:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I really don't understand... (0.00 / 0)

...the "(candidate A) wins (state X)" framing, since these are not winner-take-all-contests. What really matters are delegate numbers at the end.

And I REALLY don't know why CNN was reporting that Hillary won NY all of three minutes after the polls closed.

If we really want to be happy about anything, note that Huckabee already took two states and is in a dead heat to beat McCain in three more. The clusterfuck that is the Republican race is getting even more absurd. Could Huckabee win more delegates today than Romney? Discuss.

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by: dennisl @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:56:15 AM UTC

Neither of us voted for Hillary (4.00 / 1)

but it's not for lack of her GOTV -- I got 2 human calls and 2 robo-calls from her today, several of each over previous days. I wouldn't call it either way in NJ until the cities are counted, but here in suburban NJ-12 Obama did not try very hard.

Or maybe it was all TV ads, which I avoided.

I follow online only -- I like the noise to come from my brain.

"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." -- Emma Goldman

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by: DoctorScience @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 02:56:32 AM UTC

Er, one of them might have been me (4.00 / 1)

Sorry about that.  Had a great time!  Met a lot of new people, like about 200 of them on the phone.  
Hope I didn't interrupt something important.

"Choose something like a star to stay your mind on- and be staid"

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by: goldberry @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:54:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Were you mostly calling (0.00 / 0)

repeats? It didn't seem a very good use of money, to me, to get so many calls.

"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." -- Emma Goldman

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by: DoctorScience @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 04:38:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I was home sick but (4.00 / 1)

dragged myself to the poll in (Middlesex co) around 12:30.  The worker said the turnout was very low compared to other years.  There were two districts in the polling site.  I was the only voter.  I don't understand.

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by: sandy23 @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:12:18 AM UTC

Seemed Pretty Busy (4.00 / 1)

Voted at about 6:40 this evening on my way home from work. Weren't really that many people there (never are in my polling place -- Bridgewater District #8) but there seemed to be a fair number of people who had voted that day based on the number of slips they had by the voting machine, pretty evenly split between D and R. Heard them say to someone else that was there that turnout was fairly brisk for our polling location.

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by: storm2k @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:46:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

looks like Juan... (0.00 / 0)

might have nailed the prediction.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:42:01 AM UTC

I stayed home from work sick today. (4.00 / 1)

Just a nasty cold. I did venture out only to vote at about 10:30-ish at the Griggstown Firehouse in Franklin Twsp. (Somerset Co.).

There was a steady stream of people coming in and out and a few waiting on line but more poll workers than voters when I was there.

I asked about turn out and they said "pretty good". I forgot to look at what number I was.  It looked like an even number of those little pieces of blue and pink paper for Republicans and Democrats had gone before me.

Both my husband and I had planned on voting for John Edwards until he suspended his campaign. I was tempted to vote for him anyway, but I made peace with him being out of the race this weekend and had moved on.

I ended up voting for Hillary Clinton. My husband voted for Barack Obama. I'm fine with either one as the nominee.

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by: MaryS-NJ @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 03:54:09 AM UTC

Right before 11 PM (4.00 / 2)

Some quick ones:
With the closeness of the vote, the delegates in NJ are going to be a virtual tie.  Maybe a difference of 15 or so.

Of the eight (so far) states that Hillary has won (or is leading), she only broke 60% in Arkansas. Of the nine (so far) states that Obama has won (or is leading), he has broken 60% in six.  In fact, he is has broken 2-1 in four.  At that point, you get almost all the delegates.

So, tomorrow at noon (when we finally know California [grin]), it is likely to be a dead heat.

So, Obama people, keep the faith and get ready for Pennsylvania!  

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by: Creed Pogue @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 04:15:03 AM UTC

I was at a meeting (4.00 / 1)

tonite.  I got home a little before 11.  So, I missed a lot of the election festivities.

I am the new Fire Commissioner here.  Our Volunteer FireFighters get together once a month for a our official meeting, have dinner and discuss issues that are important to them.  

It's getting harder and harder to get people to volunteer for hard jobs like these anymore.  So many families are struggling just to survive, they have little left to give of themselves or their time.  Many of these young men work several jobs in addition to getting up in the middle of the night on a call.  I really appreciate what they do.  

Now I see that Hillary won in NJ, and so I'd like to congratulate Steven on the win!

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 04:57:42 AM UTC

Bless the firefighters! n/t (0.00 / 0)

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 06:03:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Stopped by Hillary Middlesex HQ (4.00 / 1)

this afternoon, made calls for Hillary for a couple of hours. The place was packed with Hillary volunteers.

About 9 PM went to Skylark Diner in Edison for a celebration. Gov Corzine was there (we later high fived)Congressmen Andrews, Pallone and Sires were there along with Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman. Noticeably absent was Sen. Barbara Buono.

Rob Andrews had some very interesting observations about the strength for Hillary within his CD. It was in the blue collar towns... the people most affected by the economy .. gave her wide margins.

Got congratulatory calls from friends in NYC.

Babs  

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 05:27:02 AM UTC

I was so moved (0.00 / 0)

by  the significance of the two  candidates  that I became teary eyed while signing my name at the Ward 5 District 3 table. "I've been dreaming of  this day for  years," I said to the poll workers. I  think they understood.  

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by: Wesleylake @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 06:10:06 AM UTC

still, I'm happy with the results (4.00 / 1)

Obama kept it close enough in New Jersey, to fight to a tie nationwide.  Given how far behind he started, it was good.  But of course the Clinton supporters can be proud too.  

 

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 06:26:09 AM UTC

We (4.00 / 1)

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Thank you:

Alice Walker

June Jordan

And no credit given for the "most powerful line" of Obama's speech.

Shame.

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by: SmartyJones @ Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:30:33 AM UTC