Obama wins!

1 comment February 19th, 2008

It’s one minute past 8 o’clock. The polls in Wisconsin have closed.  And Applesauce declares Barack Obama the winner over Hillary Clinton.

Obama headed for big win in Wisconsin?

4 comments February 19th, 2008

THIS GUY says the exit polls show hints of a landslide for Obama.  But they’re only hints.

If the networks don’t declare Obama the winner within the first few minutes after 8 p.m.,  he  won’t likely get a landslide and might not even win.

POSTSCRIPT: Early exit polls on Super Tuesday had Obama winning in Massachusetts and New Jersey, but he ended up losing both states by sizable margins.

UPDATE (7:19 p.m.): The polls are still open for another 40 minutes or so, but it looks like Obama wins handily.  THIS exit poll stuff from CBS says Obama took 61 percent of the male vote and 51 percent of the female vote.  That about covers it, right?

A brimming pot of political potpourri

Add comment February 19th, 2008

Barbara O’Brien has an UNCOMMONLY GOOD POST today over at her Mahablog.

Her subjects include the ridiculous theory that the Barack Obama boom amounts to the rise of a weird personality cult.

You can always count on Republicans to play the patriotism card

2 comments February 19th, 2008

Republicans like to think that they  invented patriotism and that Democrats have insufficient love for America.

Hence, THIS CONTOVERSY is no big surprise.  Something like this was inevitable.

Can Hillary still win?

Add comment February 19th, 2008

THIS GUY says it’s possible, but I think he’s wrong.

UPDATE: THIS OTHER GUY says Clinton’s going to lose and explains why.

‘Plagiarism’ brouhaha a lot of hooey

Add comment February 19th, 2008

Former Bill Clinton speechwriter David Kusnet has the SENSIBLE ANGLE on the trumped-up controversy over Barack Obama’s use of phrases previously uttered by his friend, Massachusetts Gov. Devall Patrick.

UPDATE: James Fallows also has an INTERESTING TAKE  on this matter.

Obama will win Wisconsin

Add comment February 19th, 2008

The polls show a close race in today’s Democratic presidential primary in Wisconsin, but I figure the weather favors Barack Obama.

It’s going to be bitterly cold across the state, which could depress voter turnout a little.  But Obama’s supporters tend to be more enthusiastic and motivated than those who back Hillary Clinton.

Ergo, Obama will win by at least six percentage points in the overall popular vote.

POSTSCRIPT: Demographically, Wisconsin would seem to be an IDEAL STATE for Clinton, which means a loss there will be especially damaging to her chances to win the nomination.