Liveblogging the North Carolina and Indiana Primaries
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Indiana and North Carolina primary results
7:03
Live from neither North Carolina nor Indiana, time to make fun of the cable news coverage of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries. Tonight, I'll be typing with a southern accent to match Senator Clinton's bizarre new drawl.
7:09
MSNBC is calling Indiana "Too Early to Call" which probably means "We still have some ratings to gather before we call this primary for Senator Clinton."
7:11
Most of the networks are calling it 56-44 Clinton so far. Yeeeehaw!
7:14
I wonder if the networks will talk about how Senator Clinton has been unable to close the gap among independents, African Americans and younger voters.
7:21
For the first time since (I think) 2000, the networks were showing actual returns before polls closed. MSNBC in particular was showing up to 3% reporting before the 7PM poll closing. So far there aren't any premature returns being posted on North Carolina.
7:29
MSNBC projects Senator Obama wins North Carolina.
7:30
According to exit polls, Senator Obama has narrowly won the "shares our values" debate:
Does Clinton share your values?
Yes 62
No 37
Does Obama share your values?
Yes 65
No 33
7:35
Senator Obama won 36% of the white vote in North Carolina, which is impressive.
7:37
And as is the custom. My prediction for tonight's primary coverage:
7:39
According to CNN, Evansville, Indianapolis and the Gary sections of Indiana haven't reported results yet.
7:41
Karl Rove on FOX News Channel. He's stationed in the "Strategy Room". I can only assume it's because FNC's "Asshole Room" is closed.
7:50
Some MSNBC exit poll numbers. All good news for Senator Obama. 33 percent of voters in NC were African American. Young white voters under 30: 54-43 Obama. White voters over 30: 43-61 Clinton. Senator Obama also won 33 percent of the white female vote.
7:54
Pat Buchanan suggesting that Senator Obama can't win in the general without Ohio and Florida. Wrong!
8:00
Chuck Todd suggesting the if Senator Obama gets 57% in NC, he'll more than erase Senator Clinton's PA victory. Currently, Senator Obama leads 69-31 with 0% reporting. However, the Indiana results show Senator Clinton holding onto a 57-43 lead. FNC is using the language "Too Close To Call."
8:05
Markos is pointing out that, according to FiveThirtyEight.com, Senator Obama is outperforming in Indiana.
8:09
Just throwing this out there... What about Senator McCaskill as Senator Obama's running mate? Or does he need someone like Governor Strickland of Ohio.
8:19
According to MSNBC's exit polling, the white vote in Indiana goes to Clinton 60-40. This is an improvement for Senator Obama since Pennsylvania.
8:21
According to our front page, CBS is calling Indiana for Senator Clinton. If this is in fact the case, if Senator Obama pulls within 5% there, it's not going to matter whether she won it or not.
8:24
Have any of you noticed whether the drug companies (the Montel Williams commercial) or the oil companies (the drill in ANWR commercial) are sponsoring tonight's cable news coverage?
8:28
Here's what the superdelegates will see: The Rev. Wright story has done very little -- if any -- damage to Senator Obama. In fact, it might have rallied more voters to Senator Obama in the same way NH swung heavily to Senator Clinton when she was being wrongly counted out.
8:32
NC still showing 64-35 Obama. Indiana is down to 8 points. 54-46 Clinton.
8:34
From this moment forward, everything the Clinton campaign says will include the words "Michigan and Florida." The DNC will not accept the popular vote in either state and will, instead, seat the delegates 50-50.
8:44
Is it me or does David Axelrod look like a cast member from the old Barney Miller show? Regardless, Axelrod will emerge from this year as a superstar. If Senator Obama wins in November, he and Axelrod will have defeated two of the three most popular Democrats in the world (Clinton and Clinton -- the third most popular Democrat, I suppose, is Gore).
8:49
Chuck Todd says that if Obama wins big in Indianapolis and Gary, this could change to "too close to call."
8:55
MSNBC is now showing 53-47 in Indiana with 65% reporting.
8:57
Markos: "CBS screwed up."
8:58
Senator Obama is due to speak any minute now. Weird. This is the first primary night in which he's spoken first. Will Senator Clinton interrupt?
8:59
Rove on FOX News again. The screens behind him look like he's on the set of Jeopardy. Categories: "Assholes Shmassholes", "Turdblossoms and 28 percent", and "Pot Pourri".
9:05
Question: Why couldn't Senator Clinton close the deal in North Carolina?
9:09
For what it's worth, both Senators Clinton and Obama are tied versus Senator McCain in the general. Indiana could be a blue state in the Fall.
9:10
Senator Obama on stage with Mrs. Obama.
9:12
MSNBC's language on Indiana now "Too Close To Call."
9:13
Senator Obama congratulates Senator Clinton on Indiana. Very gracious of him since no-one except CBS has called Indiana.
9:15
Obama says the words "victory in a big state." And "tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States."
9:18
Senator Obama talking about unifying the party. "This Fall we intend to march forward as one Democratic Party."
9:25
Senator Obama reintroducing his backstory in the context of the broader theme: "That's the America I love!"
9:26
MSNBC is showing 52-48 in Indiana. 58-40 in North Carolina. Meanwhile, some people shouting out remarks to Obama. His delivery is a little off, but his themes are the themes of a presumptive nominee.
9:34
The promise of America. Mentioned the flag draped over his grandfather's coffin. A very emotional, very patriotic address. One of his best. "The America Dream will endure. May God Bless you and the United States of America."
9:36
Chris Matthews says that exit polls show that Rev. Wright worked on old people.
9:37
Question: Will Senator Clinton continue to push the gas tax holiday? My answer: not so much any more.
9:38
Chuck Todd: 300,000-350,000 votes still out. If Obama gets 55 percent of those votes, he could win Indiana.
9:41
Russert saying that the gas tax holiday helped Obama in that it knocked Wright out of the headlines and made Obama seem more presidential.
9:43
CBS probably feels a little silly right now.
9:44
Contrary to what Harold Ford was saying earlier, there's no way in hell Senator Clinton will be offered a spot on the ticket. Maybe -- maybe -- a Secretary of State post, but not the VP slot. No way.
9:46
The rest of the states... Senator Clinton will easily win West Virginia and Kentucky. Senator Obama will win Oregon, South Dakota and Montana. The campaign is over. The superdelegates will not overturn the pledged delegate count and Michigan & Florida will be seated 50-50.
9:50
Where's Senator Clinton tonight?
9:54
David Gregory: "this was an acceptance speech."
9:56
Indiana
Clinton 512,331 52%
Obama 476,696 48%
9:57
This afternoon on the Mike O'Meara Show (WJFK-FM Washington) I laughed off the real electoral impact of Limbaugh's stupid Operation Chaos. But this thing in Indiana is so close, it could come down to a small Limbaugh sized margin for Senator Clinton. I guess that's why the Obama people are telling reporters that Senator Clinton's best friend today was Rush Limbaugh.
10:02
Russert: "late counting not until 11PM -- the suspense builds." Oh come on! I have tonight's Deadliest Catch waiting on TiVO.
10:04
Regardless of who wins Indiana, Wednesday will be superdelegate day.
10:05
Rove on FOX News again. "Nobody looks at John McCain and says, 'That's George Bush.'" Oh yeah? We'll see about that.
10:08
Lanny Davis on CNN wheeling out the "Obama outspent us 3-to-1" argument.
10:13
Senator Clinton's Indiana lead has widened a little to around 38,000, and in North Carolina, the margin is around 14 percent.
10:14
Oh! Adding to my remaining states list... There's Puerto Rico. Senator Clinton will win that one big.
10:17
Holy crap on a stick... Why the hell is Alex Castellanos on CNN? Castellanos is the race-baiting asshat who created Jesse Helms' 1990 "White Hands" ad.
CNN actually found a guest who is as much of a race-baiter as hall of fame race-baiters Karl Rove (on FNC) and Pat Buchanan (on MSNBC). Remarkably awful.
10:32
Senator Obama is about 15,000 votes away in NC from negating Senator Clinton's Pennsylvania victory. The magical margin in 200,000 votes.
10:34
Senator Clinton is going to be speaking soon. This could be her most important speech of the campaign. I can't imagine that she'll speak before the networks call Indiana.
10:37
Whoa. Senator Clinton is going to speak now. Strange.
10:38
"Indiana will be the tie-breaker." "We've come from behind -- we've broken tie -- and thanks to you, it's full speed onto the White House." Hmmm.
10:40
"To perfect our Union" followed by chanting "Yes we will." Hmmmm. Two lines coopted from Senator Obama. "An opponent who outspends us." Hmmmmmmm.
10:44
"Commander in Chief who will keep our families safe." Sheesh. I really, really wanted to give her a round of applause tonight.
10:47
"No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November." That's a little better. My crazy Liebercrat scenario be damned.
10:49
Lake County (Gary) is holding up the works in Indiana. Something about 11,000 absentee ballots. Meanwhile, Senator Obama's popular vote margin in NC has surpassed 205,000.
10:55
Matthews: "Not a single shot at her opponent." Well, I disagree with that one. But yeah, Senator Clinton's speech was ultimately sweet.
10:57
MSNBC: "Heavily African American precincts in Indiana yet to report."
11:00
North Carolina margin: 213,000.
11:03
John King with his magic-marker fingers says that Obama needs to win Lake County with around 58-60 percent of the remaining votes.
11:07
Lake County results not due until Midnight now. MSNBC also claims that Monroe County (Bloomington) hasn't reported yet. Weird. CNN alluded that Bloomington was done.
11:15
Matthews says something sensible regarding exits polls and racial demographics: "Can't we skip it once?"
11:19
Indiana and North Carolina might have dismantled the atomic bomb.
11:20
Did anyone notice Wolf Blitzer's weird twin brother "Porky Blitzer" sitting behind Senator Clinton tonight? That dude with the white beard and the blank stare?
11:23
Are there party officials on the ground in Lake County? I'm afraid this is beginning to look unsavory.
11:28
Chuck Todd says that Obama needs 60-65 percent of remaining votes in Lake. Obama won 67 percent of the vote in the similarly populated Indianapolis.
11:32
Todd also says that Senator Obama is now around 30 delegates away from getting a majority of pledged delegates. May 20 (Oregon and Kentucky) is likely when he'll achieve that.
11:34
I would love to see Senator Obama win Indiana, but not if Lake County is up to some shenanigans. It has to be legitimate.
11:40
Ultimately, the fact that Senator Obama won NC and came damn close (so far) in Indiana despite all of the horseshit he's faced in last six weeks is a truly remarkable thing. Senator Obama pushed through and managed to reclaim momentum against the most popular Democratic brand in the world. And now, he's going to be widely regarded as the presumptive nominee.
11:43
Matthews just lashed out at dittoheads who used their vote for mischief -- a vote for which Americans have fought and died. "I hope you're proud of yourself," he said. Credit where credit is due: right on, Matthews!
11:46
Whoa! 51-49. 19,000 vote margin in Indiana.
11:53
Russert says that Senator Clinton has cancelled her appearances on tomorrow's morning shows.
11:55
Markos: "If the Gary numbers project out, Obama wins."
Midnight
I think we have to support the Clinton campaign if they choose to contest the Lake County results. If the tables were turned, I'd be screaming about this. Naturally, if the results turn out to be legitimate -- great. If not -- then the results have to be overturned.
12:09
Chuck Todd with the math... After tonight, regardless of Lake, you can count Florida and Michigan and Senator Obama would still lead by 200,000 in the popular vote and 100 in delegates.
12:11
Russert to Olbermann: "We now know who the Democratic nominee is going to be."
12:12
Senator Clinton has also cancelled her public appearances for tomorrow.
12:20
Via Markos, the media narrative: "It's over."
12:23
Turnout in Gary, Indiana is 95 percent? If it's for real, that's insane.
12:25
Olbermann on what changed tonight: "No more money. No more money. No more money."
12:32
I think Pat Buchanan has some old-timey Ebeneezer Scrooge pajamas just off camera. The gown. The sleeping cap.
12:34
Brit Hume's face is almost entirely melted at this point.
12:35
16,609 vote margin in Indiana. And here's a little something for Bloomington:
12:46
MSNBC chit-chat has turned to discussions about Senator Obama's running mate. I agree with Maddow in that Senator Obama has to pick someone who will carry on his message of changing the way politics is done. If he picks a polarizing Cheney type, it will dilute his message.
12:48
I refuse to quit before Pat Buchanan does. I was in a bicycling accident on Friday and my back is killing me, but I refuse to let Buchanan outlast me tonight. So I will stay up until they call this thing.
12:51
Why! Why did I flip over to FNC? Hannity is talking to goddamn Rick Santorum about Ayers and Wright.
1AM
That's all for me. It's been another historical night and now it's time for us to make up and be friends again. That is, as long as Senator Clinton can holster the attacks. The mission now will be fight off the McCain Media Machine and we'll need all the help we can get. As Senator Obama said tonight: "We can choose not to be divided..."
The tide has definitely turned...
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Indiana and North Carolina primary results
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Bob, thanks for your recap, it was great! I havwe to say that the music video you assembled "Tide is Turning" is by far my favorite Obama support video!! It ges me everytime I watch it! If only this could be shown to all those who have yet to vote! It would be great if it could be the theme video for the General Election race! thank you!!! The Tide certianly has Turned!
I don't have cable so I enjoyed reading your reactions to what you saw last night. One detail you provided struck me more than any other. NC: white voters under 30: 54-43 Obama. When my parents got together in the mid 1960s (a Black man from Alabama and a white woman from Germany), they could not have legally lived together in North Carolina. And now today, 54% of young white Democrats in a southern state coalesced wth an overwhelming Black majority to hand the presidential nomination to an African American. And this despite race baiting and the easy excuse that Jeremiah Wright handed to those who were reluctant to pull the lever for Obama. I am 40 years old -- too young to remember the Civil Rights Movement and just old enough to have lived through the disastrous Reagan Revolution and all of the politics of meaness that have enveloped us ever since. I don't know if Obama is going to be able to meet my progressive expectations, but I believe for the first time in my adult life that there is a critical mass of Americans who are going to take him up on his challenge to build our country together. And there is a critical mass of young Americans of every race who are looking for leadership to help them make this country what it can be. And finally at long last, the tide is turning.
"12:46
MSNBC chit-chat has turned to discussions about Senator Obama's running mate."
And Clinton cheerleader Harold Ford, chairman of the Clinton support group Democratic Leadership Council, starts the campaign to make HRC Obama's running mate. Why does MSNBC call him an analyst? He's a shill.
The more I listened to Lanny Davis' petulant bleats and whines on CNN last night, the more he reminded me of the baby in "Eraserhea
"Is it me or does David Axelrod look like a cast member from the old Barney Miller show? "
Oh Bob.,.. You slay me. Second best was the comment re: Pat Buchanan's pajamas. Hope your back is feeling better!
Reading this article and comments all I see is hate and division over two great candidates. It's a shame! It's a crime? It's no wonder this country is going to hell in a hand basket!
Absolutely. Cynicism doesn't always pay in politics. It seems to me that rising above the "hate and division" would have not only been the right choice but also the smart choice for the Clinton campaign. In this instance, worse than a "crime" (insofar as politics is concerned), not doing so might just have been a "mistake" on the part of HRC.
As Alex Castellanos put it:
"After the Reverend Wright controversy, Hillary Clinton had the nomination in her hands. Obama was suffering the worst press month of his campaign. Then she had a choice. She could have gotten bigger, more presidential, less political, could have risen to defend Obama. 'This is outrageous and has no place in politics.' She didn't do that. Instead, she chose to become smaller, more political, less presidential. Her own political instincts betrayed her."
And that's the problem: her political instinct.
Her trying to pass the health care reform during Bill's presidency was an utter disaster. She is forgivable on that one, she was young, arrogant, and inexperienced and didn't know better - still, the "instinct" was not there.
Her vote on resolution 114, on the other hand, was dead wrong---not to mention morally wrong. (What's troubling to me, is that she was not alone in this, other prominent Democrats voted for it too. Possibly a consequence of the failed post-Clinton era policy that in order to defeat the Reps the Dems have to compete with the GOP on its own turf. The idea is not entirely erroneous: neither the GOP nor any party should be allowed to get away with the claim that they have a monopoly on "values" or on "defense," BUT there is a huge difference between embracing those values from the heart in a way that resonates with one’s own progressive values and appeals to people's intelligence and sensibility AND faking it by behaving like a Neocon Clone and attempt to exploit, out of political expediency, people's fears, prejudices and ignorance.
Lastly, the unholy alliance of HRC's campaign with the radical-right smear machine during this primary is unconscionable and a betrayal of some of the very values one would expect a progressive leader to hold dear and defend.
Senator Obama pushed through and managed to reclaim momentum against the most popular Democratic brand in the world.
----------
...surely you don't mean HRC when you say "the most popular Democratic brand in the world"...
*gasp*
.
You know, I had respected Chris Mathews coverage throughout this primary, but he lost me this morning on Morning Joe. Mr. Mathews seems think this primary is somewhat of a cat and mouse game to him and suggests he would like this to continue on an on. It's now clear he has a personal agenda to create mischief.
For what gain Mr. Mathews? Your ratings? For your entertainment? For your job at MSNBC? So your party wins in November?
I watched a good bit of the morning "news" coverage, which I rarely do, and was astounded by the seeming blatant pro-Clinton bias. Little mention was made of Barack Obama's decisive victory in NC and the vast majority of coverage seemed to focus on Hillary Clinton's options to win the nomination. Thank God for HP.
P.S. Is it just me or anyone else notice how Hillary Clinton supporters interviewed on TV "news" media seem to get top billing. Also in debate format interviews (Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton supporters appearing together), notice how they are positioned on the screen... more often than not the Hillary Clinton supporter is in the top frame or left-top frame depending on the number of interviewees. They also seem to be given more time to speak without interruption, rebuttal time and the last word. Am I reading too much into this? Thoughts?
Seems to me, you're reading it just right....P
Actually this was over after Texas, where Obama won more delegates than Clinton. The media kept it going for sport and ratings.
Obama crushed her in NC, erasing all gains she cut into his lead in PA. He lost PA by 9-10 points, by comparison, Obama won NC by an astounding 14 points after argueable his worst 2 week.
Clinton battled a hard fought race, both Bill and Hilllary repaired their reputations to a large degree and now can go out on a positive note.
As an Obama supporter, I extend a virutal handshake to all Clinton supporters and ask everyone to come together and help bring the party together so we can win the White House and get the hell out Iraq, fix our economy and repair our standing and reputation in the world.
If Hillary does finally step out of the race at this point (or sometime soon) (or whenever), stand back and watch the financial floodgates open for Barack. There are LOTS of people (like me for instance) who saw him as pretty darned flush with money during this nomination race and haven't (yet) contributed. Once he secures the nomination, I will immediately write him the largest check I can afford. If you think he outspent Clinton, wait until you see what he does to McCain.
(BTW, if you need any more parentheses, let me know. I have lots of them. )
What if Obama really won in Indiana, but the pro-leaning Clinton leaders who control Indiana is holding back the results which are suspiciously narrow to give Clinton a fig leaf?
Where the heck is this "Obama was expected to win IN" theme coming from? I'm looking at the aggregate polling data now. He's been behind for more than 2 months.
clinton
Glad you noticed. Just another case of our wonderful media not doing their job to set the record straight. Time and time again in the last 2 days they have let Clinton and her people get away with saying they were coming from behind when in fact coming out of PA she had a double digit lead in the polls in IN. Oh just now on MSNBC John Kerry is clarifying that Obama was never expected to win IN.
Ah, great, great night for the McGovernites - The nostalgia of '72.
Please, everyone get out the vote for your Democratic House and Senate candidates, so they can stop President Double Talk's court appointments.
Double Talk is very, very happy this morning.
Clinton - knocked out of the race.
Clinton backers - unite. Support Obama. :-)
Clinton is going to support Obama. Unless you want that old man to rule kick up your power to creat a voting majority that will be unstoppable.
:-)
Now at last I see the light.
Hope everyone has a great day.
:-)
Bob Cesca pwns! Live blog for me anytime dude!
Why couldn't Senator Clinton close the deal in NC?
Are you serious Robert?
NC is 40% black and Barry got 91% of that vote.
Gary, Indianapolis have significant black populations, which tightened the race.
Blacks are voting in large numbers for the black candidate.
Now...befo
In the general, blacks will not have the impact that they have in these primaries, and more importantly Barry will need as many Hillsters as he can get.
Despite the picture the more elitist Obamanistas paint, Hillsters are not senile, racist, dumb white folks.
If this is over, the most important thing to happen will be the behavior of the two candidates towards each other at the convention.
Remember when Teddy Iscariot Kennedy wouldn't shake Jimmy Carter's hand at the DNC in 1980. What a message that sent out.
I don't see Hillary withholding her hand or her support for Barry in the general.
I really fear that Barry - and his supporters at the DNC - will not be so gracious.
"...if whites were doing that for the white candidate, you know what that would be called."
What do you mean by 'if?' Are white people suddenly completely free of bigoted impulses? What a bizarre, twisted view of America.
"Blacks are voting in large numbers for the black candidate.
Er... "almost every election we've ever had" ?
"In Barry's case, I see it as a matter of racial pride - much like Irish Catholics voted for JFK - and it's shameful that blacks have bought the race-baiting myth as a way of explaining why they won't vote for Hillary"
There was a pretty concerted effort for a period of time there to make Obama "the black candidate", a smart political strategy in all fairness. For what it's worth, a lot of white people and a lot of pundits, and even some Clinton supporters saw it too. I don't think it is a fringe view held by confused black people.
In any case, I think people always vote for people that look like them, or that they can see themselves reflected in. This is natural. Just like a lot of older and middle aged white women voting for Hillary might do so because they identify with her physically and emotionally.
"In the general, blacks will not have the impact that they have in these primaries.
Obama didn't get this far without an incredibly broad base of support. There are hardly any black people in Iowa, for example.
"...and more importantly Barry will need as many Hillsters as he can get."
Absolutely. Let's hope he can win many of them over.
I guess that's why blacks voted overwhelmingly for Sharpton over Kerry in 04......NO
"Blacks are voting in large numbers for the Black candidate.
o.k. Mike, for many years Blacks have voted unanimously for White Dem candidates. Never did a Black person utter the words, "I won't vote for a White person." However, there are whites who do say, "I will not vote for a Black person.." That is why we call it "racisim."
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