It’s the final showdown among the Democrats! Unless Hillary Clinton wins Ohio or Texas - then it’s not over and we get subjected to more hostilities within the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, John McCain’s going to be pretty busy preparing for his coronation.
Oh, and there are also primaries in Rhode Island and Vermont but who really gives a fuck?
Note: I’m watching CNN’s election coverage, not because I have any special affinity for Wolf Blitzer but it’s in HD and I’m a bit of an HD snob. If it gets pretty bad - I’m looking at you, CNN’s Best Political Team - I might end up switching to MSNBC’s coverage. Also, I’ll be drinking liberally throughout the night so, for the sake of my liver, pray this ends by 10pm, will you?
Pre-Coverage
In Ohio, Clinton edges out Obama slightly, 48 percent to 43 percent. The polls showed 9 percent unsure. (Source: CNN)
In Texas, Obama leads with 47 percent to Clinton’s 45 percent. The polls showed 8 percent unsure. (Source: CNN)
Polls close in Vermont
7:00pm: We’re off and running! The polls have closed in Vermont with Obama and McCain projected to win the state. Whew, that was quick!
7:02pm: There are 17 delegates in the Republican primary and it’s winner take all so McCain just took a decent step toward clinching the nomination. As far as the 23 delegates for the Democrats, you figure that could take a while before they’re all portioned out.
7:04pm: Currently, CNN has given 3 to Obama and 2 to Clinton. The total is now 1381-1271 Obama.
7:07pm: As much as I can’t stand Wolf Blitzer, at least I don’t hate him - that honor is reserved for Lou Dobbs.
7:09pm: Vermont’s a very white state? Inconceivable! 62-37 whites, 68-31 men, 57-41 women, 61-38 seniors for Obama. Clinton’s not getting much love there.
7:15pm: John King really loves the touch-screen map technology. What will he do after November?
7:18pm: Uh oh! Sandusky county in Ohio is extending their polling hours to 9pm due to inclement weather. Does this change when CNN can announce a winner? I don’t think it’ll matter since Ohio figures to be close.
7:20pm: Thanks Wolf, but I don’t have to go to CNNPolitics.com if I don’t want to.
7:25pm: OK, we get it! Ohio is important for Clinton! God, 7:30pm can’t come soon enough.
Polls close in Ohio
7:30pm: McCain’s got Ohio - no surprise there. It’s a close race between Obama and Clinton - also no surprise there.
7:36pm: They’re talking about McCain being the presumptive Republican nominee and they mentioned something that gets mentioned every presidential cycle and deservedly so. Of course, they’re talking about the amazing GOP voter database that pretty much cherry-picks who they go after in each state. Democrats remain jealous of the GOP machine.
7:40pm: Time to break down the exit polls! 53-46 college attendees for Obama, 62-37 non-college attendees for Clinton. 50-49 non-union, 54-45 union for Clinton. 50-49 financially secure for Obama, 52-47 financially worried for Clinton. Ohio’s not looking too good for Obama.
7:50pm: In Vermont, CNN has given Obama another 5 delegates and Clinton another 2. That’s 8-4 in Ohio for Obama and 1386-1273 for Obama in total.
7:55pm: Finally, some numbers from Ohio. Clinton’s leading 60-38 with less than 1% of the precincts reporting. This won’t be a short night for Ohio.
7:57pm: Heh, Brattleboro, VT passed a resolution to arrest Bush and Cheney. Gotta love Vermont.
8:01pm: Oh, dear God - John King and his touch-screen map is the 2008 equivalent of Tim Ruusert and his whiteboard in 2000!
8:05pm: The numbers in Ohio are starting to even out a bit with Clinton still in the lead. It’s 56-42 with still less than 1% of precincts reporting.
8:06pm: They’re totally making fun of John King’s delegate counter. All in good humor, of course.
8:10pm: Some number from Texas are coming in - Obama’s up 58-41 with, of course, less than 1% reporting in. I’m with you, Wolf - where the heck are these numbers coming from in Texas?
8:26pm: It’s still 58-41 for Obama in Texas but we’re now up to 1% reporting in!
8:28pm: In Ohio, it gets a little sadder for Obama as is now down 62-37. On the bright side, it’s still at less than 1% reporting.
8:30pm: There are a lot of people at the Texas Democratic caucus. Yes, they have primaries and caucuses in one day. I can’t stress this enough - Texas is one fucked up state.
8:33pm: It’s kinda sad how the two states that can decide the Democratic nominee might not go the Dems’ way come November.
8:45pm: 56-43 for Obama in Texas with 1% in. The polls can’t close soon enough.
8:46pm: Oh right, the fucking caucuses still have to happen. Ughh.
8:48pm: They’re broadcasting live from some party in Bandera, TX and all I can say is that all the stereotypes of Texas are on full display.
8:49pm: You bring up potential irregularities in Ohio and you cut to commercial? Stop teasing us, Wolf!
8:53pm: So there were some problems in Cuyahoga county and a judge has granted Obama’s request to keep 15 polling stations open a bit longer. This could be crucial for him as Cleveland is located in this county.
Polls close in Rhode Island, Texas
9:00pm: A big CNN projection - John McCain has clinched the Republican nomination! Congratulations and though I won’t vote for you in November, you’re not nearly as scary as Mike Huckabee.
9:11pm: Since this is the second or third time they’ve mentioned it, I guess I might as well throw it out there as well. Should John McCain be running towards George W. Bush now that he’s the official nominee? It’s not like there’s a lot of love for Bush these days - can a Bush photo-op actually hurt McCain?
9:16pm: Huckabee really thought he would win Texas? I know he majored in miracles but that would’ve been some miracle.
9:20pm: Huckabee’s speaking now and he truly is very charismatic. If McCain doesn’t win, you’d have to think Huckabee would be the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2012.
9:24pm: CNN’s being really annoying by continuing to switch out from the Huckabee video stream to panning across the screens in their network headquarters. Let the man give his speech without any interruption, dammit.
9:26pm: I hate to nitpick a de facto concession speech but how can you complain that the party establishment didn’t think you belonged when you really are a lot closer to them than McCain is?
9:33pm: Back to the Democrats, it’s been projected that Clinton will win Rhode Island.
9:35pm: 60-38 for Clinton in Ohio with 12% reporting.
9:44pm: With the Rhode Island win, the updated delegate count is 1387-1278 for Obama.
9:52pm: As they show McCain’s victory speech - which is boring, by the way - CNN’s crawl is showing that Obama congratulated McCain and that he looks forward to running against him. Chutzpah, anyone?
9:58pm: I like McCain on a personal level but he’s really putting me to sleep here.
10:00pm: McCain supporters chanting “John McCain! John McCain!”, showing that, they too, can be a cult.
10:02pm: The unofficial “my friends” count for this speech was 10. 11 if you count when he referred to Huckabee as “my friend.”
10:06pm: 57-41 for Clinton in Ohio with 31% reporting. 50-48 for Obama in the Texas primary with 12% reporting.
10:15pm: What the hell was the Texas Democratic Party thinking with this two-tiered primary and caucus system? They’re essentially counting some people’s votes twice. Madness, I say.
10:28pm: They’re trying to hedge their bets with Ohio by pointing out that Cincinnati and Cleveland haven’t reported yet but I’m going out on a limb and calling it for Clinton.
10:33pm: It’s deadlocked in the Texas primary now, 49-49 with 20% reporting.
10:45pm: This is insane - there are less than 600 votes separating them in Texas now.
10:54pm: it’s 50-49 for Clinton in Texas with 32% reporting.
10:55pm: Ohio has been projected for Clinton. This is the win she needed.
10:59pm: The delegate count is now 1399-1303 for Obama.
11:00pm: Alright, I can’t actively watch this anymore. Obama better hope he can get Texas to stop the Clinton win streak at two.
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