"T" For Texas / Ohio Open Thread

CNN has results.  If their exit polls for Texas and Ohio hold up, Hillary is winning by more among women than Obama is winning among men, and women outnumber men - do the math!

(ANSWER - Two big wins for Hillary equals seven more weeks to Pennsylvania).

Comments

[Anon]

The ACLU sued the Democrat Sec of Ohio Sue Brunner to go to ballot voting the Federal judge Kathleen O'Malley [Clinton appointee] told them no.

Then Obama went back to the court about ballots running out tonight and the Judge Oliver [Clinton appointee] let them keep some precincts open.

[Anon]

Oh as to the conference call that breaks out into a fight they are talking about what happened in the ECOND round of the Nevada caucuses.

Let me get you to the article in The USA Today-

Rowdy crowds quickly filled the Las Vegas ballroom to capacity and forced casino staff to close the doors early, leaving hundreds of delegates outside, party leaders said.

"Unfortunately, all those who are eligible ... there is no physical way in this room to allow those delegates in," convention chairman Bill Stanley told the crowd as he asked them to agree to close the convention and hold the presidential vote at a later date.

Link

Casino STAFF?

That is the UNION- the Union that endorsed Obama.

When Hillary's people could not get in the Obama campaign tried to replace her delegates on no-show rules based on the fact that they were locked out in the hallway.

The Obama campaign also called everyone that caucused for Obama to show up as a delegate-because they weren't sure that those they enrolled would show up. The Hillary campaign naturally followed suit.

That's what that conference call was about.

The Union has the casino employees if you remember that while reading the article and if you know how unions never accept the first round of losing a vote then you get a picture of how ugly it was.

I'm pretty sure that is what inspired Hillary's-

Meet Me in Ohio, Barack!-yell.

[Anon]

that should read-Second- round of the Nevada caucus.

[Rick Ballard]

RW made the negative work for her. BHO is a lightweight but he's a popular lightweight. Or was until the witch found the right spell.

[Neo]

I keep seeing stories of "voting problems" in Ohio.

Shirley .. err .. surely this isn't Karl Rove, so exactly who will the Democrats blame ?

I suggest they look in the mirror.

[Anon]

Ya-it's looking like the Hatfield and the McCoys with lawyers.

Or-

The Tammanys vs. The Dead Daleys.

[Topsecretk9]

EXAS
OBAMA 701,429 49%
CLINTON 696,635 49%

----

Clinton's got Ohio it looks like. Waiting for Obama to call it a Diebold.

Waitng for Clinton to call a Diebold in Texas too.

[centralcal]

All my EXAS live in Texas. giggle.

[Pofarmer]

Then Obama went back to the court about ballots running out tonight

I'll thank you to remember it's Barack Hussein Obama.

[Pofarmer]

5000 votes out of 1.3 MILLION??? That's pretty close.

[Topsecretk9]

Cent

Dont mess with EXAS!

[centralcal]

I hear ya, Tops. I was born in Texas, but my EXAS wasn't (were'nt).

[centralcal]

Where is Clarice? Is she alright? I blame Chantix, or whatever it is called.

[MayBee]

Ohio to Hillary.

Every state I've ever lived in has gone to Hillary. Interesting fact.

[centralcal]

Woo Hoo. The harridan, the spouse of Bubba the Hut, the Red Witch has won Ohio.

[Elliott]

Please tell me all the brilliant things Brit, Michael Barone, Bill Kristol, and Karl Rove are saying. I am stuck with CNN. At least they have Alex Castellanos.

[Jane]

I don't think Hillary is surging. I think the republicans have been controlling this race. I credit GMAX.

[Rick Ballard]

GMax,

I think those spreads in 25 and 26 are all early vote edge. It might work in 25. 26 is a bit more problematic as to whether it will hold but I think he got 25. 6,7 and 15 can't seem to find anything to count at the moment.

[Sue]

Elliott,

You can't hear them? Well, they just said that Sue is beautiful and witty and wise. Really.

[Topsecretk9]

Yahoo is blasting "Clinton Wins Rhode Island". It's sort of pathetic. (no offense RI)

[JM Hanes]

Anon: "The Hatfield and the McCoys with lawyers."

LOL! Perfect. When Hillary sends out Wolfson, you know there's dirty work that needs doing.

When Jeffrey Toobin, commenting on the Texas voter/caucus setup, said "This is a disgrace what Texas is doing" it struck me as a name-that-party moment.

[centralcal]

JMH: Where is Jeff Toobin commenting? CNN or MSNBC?

[JM Hanes]

Elliott:

I've always thought Candy Crowley (sp?) is one the best political reporters around.

[JM Hanes]

centralcal: He's been on CNN tonight.

[centralcal]

I like Candy Crowley, too, JMH. Although, that said when her brows really knit together tightly, you know she's saying something about the libs that pains her, but nevertheless, needs to be said.

[MayBee]

Oh, JMH I agree.

I remember when Judy Woodruff had her old CNN show. We watched it because CNN was one of our few television options. One week, my husband and I were thrilled because CNN had this brand new, really great show in Judy's old slot, and Candy Crowley was the host. Sadly, she was just filling in for Judy for a while and the show went back to bad.

I'm a Candy fan, and am always impressed by her shiny hair.

[centralcal]

You know, if RW somehow pulls it out tonight and wins Texas, along with Ohio, I credit Majah Rushie! He came too late to the party to help us overcome McCain, but he did rise to the occasion in time for Hillary!

[Topsecretk9]

Democrat Fear Mongers demostrate their discrete sensitivity and tolerance

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: A controversial party guest was spotted at Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's election night party in Columbus, Ohio Tuesday.

He was hard to miss. He was the one wearing the "Osama for Obama" t-shirt.

Columbus resident Todd Elbaum told ABC News his friend makes the t-shirts.

Elbaum did not hold back on his views of Obama when he was interviewed by ABC within full view of a Clinton staffer.

"The truth is he was born a muslim, his father was a muslim, his mother married a muslim after divorcing his father. His grandfather was a muslim. It doesn't matter. But what does matter is when Obama said he was never a muslim. He was a muslim. He was born a muslim. He was a muslim for six years of his life," Elbaum said.

[JM Hanes]

So, does Hill come down to do an Ohio victory lap, or will she wait till the Texas results come in? I'm guessing she waits for Texas, just in case, because that would be one hell of victory speech.

[RichatUF]

I thought that OH would be closer-now the OH gov is getting into the FL and MI act.

Rick, I think it might be time for another donation to the Society for Eyeless Newts and Toeless Frogs....

[vnjagvet]

RW's Ohio win bodes ill for BHS in Pennsylvania. She built up such a lead in the southern and western part of the state, Cleveland could not overcome Ed Rendell will assure victory for RW. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will not give BSH enough to overcome the central/southern European vote, which is notorious for its antipathy towards "non-Europeans" if you get my drift. Even as popular a guy as Lynn Swann could not break that coalition.

[Jane]

I like Candy too, altho I now never watch CNN. And it's time for me to retire. I will greet you all in the AM!

[Topsecretk9]

I just linked to that Democrat proudly wearing a "Obama loves Osama" t-shirt to demonstrate that it appears Democrats are the new racist, bed-wetting fear monger cool.

[centralcal]

Well . . . speak of the Devil, she is speaking in Ohio!

[JM Hanes]

OK. I'm gonna say it. I'm happy for Hillary tonight. She's a fighter, and she deserves a good day too.

[MayBee]

sweet dreams, Jane.

[kim]

I watched a clip of Obama talking about the Canada NAFTA thing and here's what he does. When he's lying he looks down and to the right and his tongue goes between his lips in the same direction. Simple body language, which I don't think he'll be able to suppress. I'm gonna watch some more for it. Well, probably not; it's pretty nauseating watching him.
====================

[kim]

Clip was at RCP.
==========

[Topsecretk9]

Candy Crowley has always seemed to stick to the facts jack - she ain't no David Shuster that's for sure.

[Rick Ballard]

"she deserves a good day too."

As long as it isn't in November. The rest of the time she deserves splinters from her broom.

[anduril]

Two questions for you exit poll gurus:

1. What's the breakdown for Catholics in Ohio? We know RI, liberal as it is, is the most Catholic state in the Union and went heavily to Hillary. What will this tell us about Penn?

2. Did Obama do as well as he needed to do among blacks in both OH and TX, or was there an easing of his support level?

[clarice]

Niters.
While Ms McCain looks good in yellow, I still think red is the new (and old) red for first ladies. Most people look dreadful in that color.

[Patrick Tyson]

Ron Paul is cruising. Dennis Kucinich is waiting for them to start counting the votes.

[anduril]

Well, I can answer one question: Hillary cleaned Obama's clock in all religious categories. Obama only came close to his percentage among weekly Protestant attendees. Huge bad news for him in Penna.

[Elliott]

You can't hear them? Well, they just said that Sue is beautiful and witty and wise. Really.

It sounds to me like Brit et al. are doing some good old fashioned fair and balanced reporting tonight.

[Topsecretk9]

Kim

When he's lying he looks down and to the right and his tongue goes between his lips in the same direction.

Years and years ago I took an African American history class in college. For some reason the teacher sought me - dark hair and eyes in a sea of bleached white blue eyed blondes - to sort of pick on as an innate black hater. It was surreal.

He proceeded to read my eye/body language to demonstrate. He'd ask me some inflammatory "you don't like black people do you?" question and in my confused embarrassment he'd critique "see your lying, Eyes look up in the head when they are lying, they are searching for an answer because they are liars...see that class? she's lying! She hates black people!

I just sat there, mexican looking and all I said was "aah"

[Rick Ballard]

OH is 18.7% Catholic to PA's 31%. Even though BHO does OK with nominal Catholics it won't offset his low % with weekly Mass goers.

One of many reasons why he would be much easier to beat than RW.

[anduril]

Rather than Hillary hanging on, we may be witnessing the implosion of BHO.

[Ralph L]

The rest of the time she deserves splinters from her broom
Steel wool has made the broomstick slick as glass.

[Sue]

I just sat there, mexican looking and all I said was "aah"

I might have said more than "aah" if I had been in your shoes, Top.

[sammy small]

"He was a muslim for six years of his life,"

Well, doesn't that make him an apostate, and condemned to death by the true believers of Islam?

[Topsecretk9]

anduril

Does the delegate math work that way?

--

Sue

I was 18.

[Sue]

Sue

I was 18.

Pisses me off even more.

[anduril]

What I meant was, if she hangs on in TX, and with her prospects looking much better in PA, she's gonna have Big Mo, comparatively speaking. I frankly don't have a clue how the delegate thing works in TX.

[Sue]

Have y'all noticed that Obama has dropped the plagarized speech even though he said it wasn't plagarized?

[Neo]

I wonder how much of this Rezko stuff will rub off on Obama.

[Sue]

Apparently my damn county can't figure out how to report the votes.

[anduril]

Check this out, from Geraghty:

10 Percent of Democratic Primary Voters Were... Republicans

The Rush Limbaugh Effect:

Early exit polling shows 10 percent of the voters in Ohio's Democratic Primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 22 percent who said they were independents. It was the same story in Texas: 10 percent of the voters in the Democratic primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 25 percent who said they were independents.

Rush Limbaugh may have saved Hillary Clinton's bacon in the Democratic primary. If that isn't the weirdest statement of this wacky election year, I don't know what could top it.

UPDATE: But, as Campaign Spot reader Todd notes, in the CBS exit poll in Texas, Obama carried self-identified Republicans who voted in the Democratic primary, 53 percent to 46 percent.

Me again: I hope we don't live to regret saving Hillary.

[Topsecretk9]

Sue
It taught me a lot ::wink::

[Rick Ballard]

"Apparently my damn county can't figure out how to report the votes."

Sure they can - they're just waiting to find out how many are needed. Like Landslide Lyndon in '48. It is a Dem county, right?

[Sue]

Rick,

::grin::

Yes.

[JM Hanes]

Oh this is getting good:

Huckabee: A woman sold her wedding ring, and sent the proceeds to my campaign.

Hillary: You think you've got the poor vote? A mother and her 2 young daughters sent me their last $10.

Barack: You think you can out poor me? An elderly lady sent me a money order for $3.01!

[RichatUF]

TSK9-

I just sat there, mexican looking and all I said was "aah"

Did anyone else speak up for you and did you stick through the class?

[Topsecretk9]

Me again: I hope we don't live to regret saving Hillary.

Effin A - that has been my fear. I've felt that Limbaugh has been operating on the premise the press will never cover Obama in depth in the way they have McCain and Hillary. They are now it seems that is taking effect - although I would argue that Michelle Obama's "I've never been proud of my country" bit was the death blow.

[JM Hanes]

Did you guys know that Obama is not just the hope of America? He's the last best hope on earth. Apparently, there's a guy in Africa huddled by his t.v. listening for the Texas results right now. Who knew?

[Elliott]

JMH,

And American students traveling overseas will answer with pride when queried as to their nationality.

[Topsecretk9]

Rich

Did anyone else speak up for you and did you stick through the class?

NO - are you kidding? This was 1989 when everyone was told they were a racist. No one had the gonads to say anything - me included.

I did stick through. He gave me a C even though I made the class and did the work.

Like I said it was surreal. My best friend in the class told me to just look down the entire class "I think you are getting too much eye contact whith him, I think that is the problem, just look down and pretend you are reading the textbook."

I am not exagerating when I say his conduct was demonstrative and aggressive to me.

[JM Hanes]

Tell you who else I've been liking a lot on the CNN stage: Roland Martin. He always has an interesting, percepive take on what's going on.

[MayBee]

I am not exagerating when I say his conduct was demonstrative and aggressive to me.

He probably wanted you to visit during office hours to beg for a grade. Then he'd have made you an offer....

[Sue]

Woohoo! My county finally figured it out.

[Elliott]

Alex Castellanos on CNN arguing that a Hillary comeback would be a "Pyrrhic victory" on account of Obama's popularity within and without the Democratic party: "It would be like killing Santa Claus in front of the kids on Christmas morning." (I probably mangled something in the quote, but it should be pretty close.)

[JM Hanes]

TSK9: I'm sticking pins in a doll for that guy right now.

[Topsecretk9]

JHN

Yesterday was vote for a new scout patrol leader night, 2 nice young men campaigned and made their speech.

When the scout master went to read the vote he mentioned that Obama was not on this ballot and so the jokers who did the write-ins that were not funny (even though he (we) laughed - we're not that uptight!)

Obama's bicycle won Boy Scout troop leader!

[kim]

Early lesson, pooch. I'll bet you've found similar reactions from people you've figured out are phonies.
=========================

[MayBee]

Barack: You think you can out poor me? An elderly lady sent me a money order for $3.01!

Heh!

McCain could win this game if he would proudly tell the story of the $0 I've given him.

[Sue]

I predicted before the numbers started coming in that Hillary would win Ohio by 5 and Texas by 2. Ohio is holding at 6. Texas is at 2. Wouldn't it be something if I finally got something right?

[GMax]

I credit GMAX.

shucks! I was just angling for a call from Ickes so I could tell him what I really think of him!

Ephemeral support, ie lasting one day. Back to the salt mines of electing Republicans. It was fun for a day but I aint doing that anymore.

[Topsecretk9]

Maybee

It wasn't like that I promise.

The Jeff Spicolo's were relieved.

The teacher was like 65 and big wide rimmed glasses.

[Neo]

So did Hiliary darken the image of Obama ?

Take a look, this one is darker than this one.

[Topsecretk9]

JHN= JMH

Heh on me!

[MayBee]

I know you weren't. I'm just remembering when that happened to my sister. Some idiot kept picking on her and giving her a lower grade than she deserved, then pulled the old "weeeellll...there is one way that could change...." Anyway, now I never trust people who are dicks. It's a philosophy I have.

[Sue]

My county went heavily for Clinton. I knew it would. They aren't voting for her, though. She owes this county to Bill. They love him.

[Sue]

Huckabee took my county. I knew that too. Baptists run rampant around here.

[JM Hanes]

Elliott:

That may have been the best thing anybody said all night! And he's right really. Obama is a kind of transitional passing-the-torch figure for all the kids who grew up terrified that we're destroying the planet or that if they come within 50 feet of a smoker they're doomed, and that individuals don't have a prayer of fixing anything. In many ways, he's empowering the next generation, which is why I basically hope he wins the nomination -- after which McCain can hopefully pull off a clear, clean victory.

[GMax]

Well as we plod forward, I thought having voting machines was suppose to make counting ballots quick? It appears districts, 2, 5, 13 and 16 are all real close and all are showing trends toward Hill. Difference of less than 3000 votes in each. She will get some of those I think but may be a little short in a couple. It should be about a draw before the caucuses.

[JM Hanes]

Neo: Very funny!

[Topsecretk9]

I've been learning with vote pundits that the african americans don't like the mexicans and visa versa

Maybe teacher was one of them?

I'm Portuguese but my last name went through ellis Island hash..

a Gomes is a Gomes, but the Ellis people stamped Gomez

Lopes is stamped Lopez.

Guilt by identity association has been the story of my life.

[Elroy Jetson]

Seven weeks to Pennsylvania. That is an eternity in primary politics. Obama has been taking some heat about his relationship to Rezko; we all know the infinite baggage Hillary! carries.
The media has seven weeks to report nothing. It's an order of magnitude worse than the two weeks between the AFC-NFC Conference finals and the Super Bowl. What is a bored MSM to do???? The Obama/Hillary slugfest may turn into an ultimate fighting championship. Lots of mudslinging and bringing up past scandals. And a MSM with nothing to do....
This could be awesome or really boring. Chairman Dean may have to step in with a gag order on both candidates. We'll see.

[Elliott]

My own view is that it's good for McCain's prospects if Clinton wins the primary in Texas yet ends up with fewer delegates. I think the Democrats will be in a very bad spot if one side is challenging the legitimacy of the process.

For the Bravo fans among us, I have a couple questions. Does CNN or Fox have better makeup artists? Also, is it intentional that Shep's makeup often makes him look like the victim in a CSI Episode?

[Rick Ballard]

Elroy,

They're going to start beating the crap out of McCain. Followed by more of the same.

Then it doubles.

Then it doubles again.

Then it starts to get rough.

[Sue]

CBS and Fox are calling Texas for Hillary.

[JM Hanes]

Elliott: I think they run Shep through a lacquer box on his way to the sound stage. The glare is just too much for me, so I don't actually watch him. I think everybody's make-up has gotten considerably more heavy handed and noticeable over the past year or so and I've wondered why. Maybe they're just transmitting sharper images or something, but people's hairlines really stand out, and women, in particular often seem to forget to do their necks and end up looking bizarre.

[GMax]

Well ahs anyone called this for Hill yet? Cuz I dont see anything in these numbers that says he can make up a 70K vote deficit at this stage. For a bunch of stations that could not wait until the polls closed in western Fla in 2000, it sure seems like they make no calls when it should be obvious if you have key precincts and have done your homework.

Did Barone have a couple on the way to the station? First time I had ever seen him lost for words. Maybe he was ill.

[Cecil Turner]

Well, Texas is ~70% in, and Clinton retains a 2% lead. Barring some anomaly, I'd have to call her the winner in the TX popular vote, which can reasonably be claimed as a big momentum shift. Expect the MSM talking heads to resist for a bit, since it doesn't fit in with the "impending demise" meme. But this thing looks to me like the overall race is shaping up to a statistical dead heat, which means that it'll be decided at the convention, and not before.

(Told ya to keep a couple of stakes handy, but nooooo . . . looks like it's time to start decorating with garlic wreaths again.)

[Cecil Turner]

Synchronicity. Dang, that's impressive.

[GMax]

Sue we x posted but if SEEBS and foxc agree with me I am going to bed. Tomorrow, it back to trying elect Rs. My day as Dem was short but traumatic.

[JM Hanes]

Hill takes Texas. Now that's got an historic ring to it, doesn't it?

[MayBee]

Wow Hillary! CNN calls it for her too.

The fun doesn't stop tonight, kiddos. It's going to be Christmas for a few more weeks.

[JM Hanes]

What, not staying up till the caucus results come in?

[MayBee]

Hill takes Texas.

It does indeed have a historic ring, JMH. Especially considering this year, it seems as though the Hill, the Grassy Knoll, got it's revenge.