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A Nail Biter for Clinton; A Big Win for Obama
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10:57 am.
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
RALEIGH, N.C. (Posted May 7, 2008) – A nail-bitter into the morning hours ended with Sen. Barack Obama winning a decisive win in North Carolina and losing by the narrowest of margins to Sen. Hillary Clinton in Indiana.
Obama’s victory in the Tar Heel State was announced seconds after the polls closed. With 99 percent of the votes counted by midnight, the Illinois senator had defeated the New York senator 58 percent to 42 percent in North Carolina.
But Indiana was a different story. Tardy vote tallies from one of the largest counties in the state, Lake County, a suburb of Chicago with one of the largest populations in the state, was slow reporting.
The delay required Clinton to give remarks to supporters without a clear check in the win column. “Tonight we’ve come from behind. We’ve broken the tie and thanks to you, it’s full speed on to the White House,” Clinton told a rally in Indianapolis.
Mayor Rudy Clay, of Gary, Ind., told CNN that the reason for the delays was that the small election staff was dealing with 11,000 absentee and early ballots, and that they had been overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of voters who turned out during the day.
Obama addressed supporters gathered at North Carolina State in the field house after his victory and congratulated Clinton for “what appears to be her victory in the state of Indiana.”
Sticking to his message of change, Obama told a cheering crowd, “There were those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election, but today what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C.”
After tonight’s contest, only six primaries are left. Next Tuesday, West Virginia voters will go the polls, leaving Kentucky and Oregon (May 20), Puerto Rico (June 1) and Montana and South Dakota (June 3) as the last battles for elected delegates.
Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic Party, has said that super-delegates will be asked to meet following the final contest in June, in hopes of allowing the party time to mend fences before the August convention.
In Indiana, where Clinton won, the primary was open to Republicans and Independents – but not here in North Carolina. Only Democratic and Independents can vote in the primary.
This could have been a factor in how close the race was in Indiana; Obama usually fairs well among Independent voters.
North Carolina reported record turnout of primary voters Tuesday, and it wasn’t really surprising. This year the state registered 106,000 new Democrats leading up today’s contest.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections showed 471,006 early votes and 24,900 absentee ballots mailed before today’s vote.
“We know what’s coming. We’ve seen it already,” Obama said. “The attempts to play on our fears and exploit our differences to turn us against each other for pure political gain — to slice and dice this country into red states and blue states; blue-collar and white-collar; White and Black, and Brown.”
The theme of party unity was in Obama’s speech to supporters, and he avoided targeting his rival, saving those for the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
Clinton’s 51-percent victory, to Obama’s 49 percent, will not give her any significant delegate lead. These contests offered the largest remaining numbers of delegates.
Indiana had 72 delegates at stake, North Carolina 115.
Obama leads Clinton in total delegates, 1,745 to 1,608, according to The Associated Press.
It’s not possible for either candidate to reach the 2,025 delegate votes needed to secure the nomination, so they are relying on super-delegates to take them over the threshold.
Marchelle honey you can’t believe everything you read. I read your little link, people will twist the truth to make it seem like something it is not. I plan on giving him a chance just like all the other presidents have been given. We have had all kinds in the white house.
Its Obama or Neva!!! Its time for change
Barack,
You have been raised by God Almighty for this hour. We truly thank Him for you. May He always protect and keep you, Michelle and, the girls in His hands.
Glory and Amen
ITS OBAMA ALL DAY AINT NOBODI WORRIED BOUT HILLARY!!!
Congrate on your big win in North Carolina. Keep on going. Keep doing what you think is best for our country. We need someone who cares what happens in our country. I hope that we get a black president. Congrate!!!
Congrate on your big win in North Carolina. Keep on going. Keep doing what you think is best for our country. I hope that we get a black president. Congrate!!!
CONGRATLUATIONS GOES OUT TO BOTH HILLARY AND OBAMA!
BUT I MUST SAY THAT IF OBAMA IS OUR CANIDATE ALOT BLACKS WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, WHEN THE REPUPLICAN PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THIS DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN FOR OBAMA, WILL BE SWITCHING BACK AND VOTING FOR MCCAIN IN NOVEMBER….IT’S A TRICK THAT I SEE ALOT OF BLACKS HAVE FALLEN FOR!!!!!!…WISE UP…DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT AMERICA HAS CHANGED THAT MUCH THAT THEY WILL EMBRACE A BLACK MAN AS THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD!!!…THINK AGAIN!!!!
I HAVE READ MAC’S COMMENTS AND I MOST SAY THIS…RUSH LIMBA HAS BEEN ASKING THE REP VOTERS TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR HILLARY AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO THINKS LIKE HIM…IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN THE THE REP VOTE HAS STAYED WITHIN THERE ON PARTY YOU STILL FIND VOTES BEING CAST FOR THOSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE KNOW LONGER IN THE RACE…YES YOU MAY FIND SOME TO HAVE CROSSED OVER BUT NOT AS MANY AS YOU WOULD BELIEVE TO SWAY THE VOTE COUNT IN FAVOR OF THE REP PARTY…
thank the lord……aint that something america the lord is good and now we gonna have african american president.but the lord is good……..
SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, BRAGGED THAT THE PRIMARIES IN NORTH CAROLINIA, AND INDIANA WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER. WHILE THE GAME DID CHANGE, BUT IT CHANGED IN SENATOR BARACK OBAMA’S FAVOR. NOW HE IS HEADED TO THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
Well its looks like all of Senator Clingon tricks have played out and she is just standing in Obama way, he is going to be the nominee know how much she continues to run an empty campaign. Obama just needs to keep doing what he doing because good things comes to those who wait.
Obama I’ll continue to pray for you because I know what God has for you is for you.
Hilary supporter’s should stop hating on Obama and join forces to stop McCain if you want to repeat the past then vote for McCain because we want change and Obama is the only Presidental nominee who can make this happen.
Obama for President
michelle shut up you make black american sound stupid dont disgrace your own people.out there its bad enough when americans are considered sutpid you just confirm it. yuk!!
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ANY HISTORY AND AFRICAN BORN IN AMERICA WILL LEAD AMERICA. I ALWAYS SAID THIS DAY WOULD COME THAT SOMEONE OUTSIDE WILL COME INSIDE TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER.. ITS ABOUT BLOODY TIME,
what makes obama so different is that he doesnt have the victim baggage and the paranoia , he is sooo different and yet so familiar everyone can do business with this man and with the help of good people i hope behind him i do believe he can turn around americas image and maybe restore some of the respect she has lost over the past 8yrs.he is one of us not just an american so that makes him interesting to african particularly kenyans who respect him and his opinions.. i can see a wind of change already blowing in african politics where they will actually listen instead of dismiss just another american who knows squat about them to seeing him as a fellow countryman who they can all do business with … same thing in the middle east where america’s reputation is squat right now…
lOl JUST DONT RIOT WHEN HE LOSES PEOPLE ITS GONA BE SAD 4 REAL I KNOW, BUT HE WILL BE A HORRIBLE PRESIDENT, AND IF HE DOES GET IT I GARUNTEE ALL THE MISTAKES HE MAKES HE IS GONA SEND BLACKS BACK 20YEARS
t29a…
t556t…
ALL I WANT TO SAY HERE IS CONGRATULATION Mr. PRESIDENT OBAMA THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN LEADER WHO CAME TO MAKE THE CHANGES AS HE PROMISE ALL VOTERS.SO THE FIRST CHANGE I HOPE HE SUPPOSE TO DO IS TO CLEAR THE BLACK FACE OF AMERICA ALL AROUND THE WORLDS WHICH CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUSE PRESIDENTS POLICES.AMERICANS KNOW THE ARE HATED BY OTHERS AND THIS MIDNESS OF THOSE PEOPLE IS ELEGIBLE SINCE GORGE W BUSH WAS THE CRIMINAL LEADER WHO KILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD CALLING FOR FREEDOME BY FORCE WHICH NEVER EVER WILL HAPPEN .SO PLS Mr. OBAMA CLEAN AND WIPE THIS DIRTY FACE OF AMERICA BY ESTABLISHING PEACE EVERY WHERE. THANKS
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