We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's another big night in the Democratic primary saga. Will the North Carolina and Indiana primaries be the final knock-out blows for Barack Obama. Or will Hillary Clinton live to fight another day? Join me tonight if you're following the returns for a bit of political chatter.
posted by gatorbob @ 5:49 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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Huffington Post is reporting the first exit polls coming in that indicate a split decision:
Indiana - Clinton +5%
North Carolina - Obama +12%
This is better news for Obama. It gives him a vital big post-Rev. Wright-era win that will bolster his campaign and denies Clinton valuable delegates in either state. Hillary will no doubt continue her quixotic campaign regardless but it's all but over if these numbers are right.
Record turnouts are reported in both states. It's unclear what effect Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" is having in Indiana, which is an open primary where some GOP voters may turn out for Hillary to prolong the Dem. primary race.
Polls are starting to close in Indiana at 7 p.m. EST and MSNBC is reporting that it's "too early to call. With 4% counted:
Clinton - 59%
Obama - 41%
That looks like a blowout but it's likely to tighten if the exit polls are to be believed. Importantly, the districts right around Chicago close at 7:30, so Obama should get a late surge.
The battle for the media attention tonight may be won by the person who wins a state first. Alternately, it could be won by the person who wins bigger and later and captures the 11 o'clock news cycle. Hard to tell.
At 7:30 p.m., MSNBC is already calling North Carolina for Barack Obama. This will be a tremendous relief for the Obama camp and Obamamaniacs who are trying to kill off the challenge of Hillary Clinton.
Interestingly, the media hacks are already trying to downplay this win. They're desperate to keep this thing going so that they have some drama to keep talking about.
Indiana - 25% counted:
Clinton - 57%
Obama - 43%
Meanwhile, NC is being characterized as a "huge victory" and "game changer" for Obama.
At 8 p.m. EST we have the same picture in the Hoosier State:
Clinton 57%
Obama 43%
Keith Olbermann just clarified that the reason that MSNBC is not calling Indy yet is that they're waiting to see what the more Obama areas around Chicago have to say.
At 9 p.m., Obama has cut Clinton's lead in Indy by half:
Clinton - 53%
Obama - 47%
MSNBC is still calling this "too early to call" because of those big African American districts around Chicago, including Gary. If this gets closer or Obama ends up pipping her at the wire, it's all over.
Barack Obama is speaking now on a big, big night for his campaign.
MSNBC has changed their language from "Too Early to Call" to "Too Close to Call" in Indiana.
At 9:40 p.m. with 75% counted:
Clinton 52%
Obama 48%
Down to four percent now and probably tightening even now.
There was a very interesting moment at the end of the Obama speech. Just as he was receiving his last ovation, Michelle Obama whispered in his ear something like "You're close in Indiana" and he smiled at her. Sweet.
Clinton areas of Indiana are all but 100% reported now but big Obama areas like Marion County are still coming in. Most importantly, Gary is still at 0% reported. This could get very tight.
Incredible. The same hacks like Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough who were trumpeting Hillary's "blue collar" pose are now calling it "pandering." Why wasn't it pandering two days ago, guys?
Keith Olbermann commented that the Rush Limbaugh "Operation Chaos" plan was a dud tonight. Only 11% of the Indiana turnout was GOP and they were evenly split between Obama and Clinton.
Still "too close to call" in Indiana.
The snarks over at Daily Kos are calling this a "knockout punch." I'm not sure. It's interesting that Hillary hasn't come out to speak in Indiana yet. Anyone expecting her to concede and drop out tonight is smoking something really good stuff. Ain't gonna happen.
Talk about schizophrenia! The pundits who were all talking about Hillary's swagger just this morning are now writing her obituary.
At 10:15 p.m. with 85% counted:
Clinton 52%
Obama 48%
MSNBC pundits are now wondering what's up with the late count coming out of Gary.
Here comes Hillary trying to put a brave face on a rough night for her.
"Full speed onto the White House."
(sigh)
Here's the tone of the response to Clinton's speech on Daily Kos:
"She's delusional. Seriously insane...
what is she talking about? She hasn't even won...
Oh Lake County, make me happy.
This person is crazy. Somebody tell her that she's already lost the nomination."
Blimey, the counts coming out of Indiana have slowed to a trickle. WTF? Still 14% to be counted.
Coming up on midnight and still "too close to call. With 88% counted:
Clinton 51
Obama 49
With Bloomington and Gary still to come in, Barack could still pinch this one.
The funniest thing is that CBS called this thing back at 9 p.m. I'd love to see Katie with egg on her face.
Coming up on 1 a.m. and it's still too close to call.
Clinton 51
Obama 49
We're still waiting for the last 5% coming in from Gary and Bloomington, both big Obama areas.
But it's over. The MSNBC folks, with the exception of Rachel Maddow, are writing the Clinton obituaries. She's canceled all public appearances for tomorrow and will "powwow" with her staff. That sounds like what Romney did before he dropped out. We're close to the end.
MSNBC is finally at a little after 1 a.m. calling it for Clinton but only "apparently."
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