Obama, McCain Sweep Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Primaries

Hillary Clinton's February flop continued today as voters in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. turned out for Barack Obama by nearly two-to-one margins (in D.C. he won by 75% to 24%). According to exit polls, Obama not only did well with young voters, blacks and independents but, surprisingly, with certain demographics Clinton's been counting on: senior citizens, women and blue collar voters. Polls suggest 49% of those who voted for Obama were white and voters over sixty backed Obama by 52%.

Amidst the fallout, the Times reports that Mike Henry, Clinton’s deputy campaign manager, has resigned. Despite the shake-up, Clinton's camp says they're not sweating it because they're going to show everybody by winning big in Texas and Ohio on March 4th. And if necessary, they'll pull strings to seat the delegates from Florida and Michigan they'd previously agreed were disqualified.

On the Republican side, the major news outlets have all called Virginia, D.C. and Maryland for John McCain, winning over Mike Huckabee. In Virginia, McCain had 50% to Huckabee's 41%; McCain had 68% to 17% in D.C.; and with some of Maryland counted, McCain leads 56% to Huckabee's 29%. McCain needs 1,191 to clinch the nomination; at the moment he has 783 to Huckabee's 217, according to CNN estimates. Huckabee is being pressured to drop out of the race, but he told Larry King he's not quitting.

Polls were held open until 9:30pm in Maryland and D.C. due to snow; the moment they closed the networks immediately projected Obama as Maryland's winner. NBC is projecting D.C. for Obama and McCain. In all, 168 Democratic delegates were up for grabs in the Democratic contest. CNN currently pegs Obama at 1,181 delegates, Hillary at 1,173. Of that, Obama has a lead of 1,014 to 934 in pledged delegates -- people who can't change their minds at this year's Democratic convention. And Obama has now won 21 states to Clinton's 10.

But Clinton is still claiming an edge among superdelegates, those Democratic party big shots who are not beholden to the tawdry will of the voters. If neither candidate clinches the requisite 2,025 to seal the nomination, they may end up making a super mockery of the democratic process.

Next up: Democrats have contest next Tuesday in Hawaii and Wisconsin while Republicans have a contest in Guam on Saturday and Wisconsin next Tuesday.

Photo of Barack Obama at tonight's rally in Madison, Wisconsin by Morry Gash/AP; photo of John McCain at his Primary Watch headquarters in Alexandria, VA by J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on February 12, 2008 8:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Leon Freilich

OBAMA-BOUND

A hope dealer in the White House?

Appealing to green youth

And scrambled eggheads who mistake

Amorphous wishes for truth.

VanessaNYC

likerudylikesbooty,

I completely agree with you, dismantling our current health system and the giant bureaucracy that supports it (when I say bureaucracy, I mean insurance companies that spend the majority of their time - and our money - trying to deny healthcare sick people) is an enormous job.

We can't change this system overnight. It will take years. The multi-billion dollar healthcare industry will fight it tooth and nail, no doubt.

I just think it's the best idea (in the long term) as our healthcare system is prohibitively expensive and it's simply not working for the people of this nation.

eyekantspel

So, you're saying that I don't think that Democrats aren't corrupt? Thanks, but I never said that. Thank you for playing. Where did I say you think Democrats are not corrupt? You can be dismissive of my comment, but it doesn't build your argument. Who is your candidate? Hillary? if so, Bill's own actions with respect to the Keating Five, when the idea was still relevant, kind of undermines your throwing that out there to in saying McCain is not a hero.

Not that I ever said McCain was a hero, but clearly a great many people do. Not because of his actions as a Senator, but because of his service during Vietnam. Being a hero in your youth does not guarantee you won't make mistakes later in life, but those mistakes, especially a situation as ambiguous as what the Keating Five were accused of, does not detract from his hero status in the eyes of most. Regardless, Hillary is done. Thank you for playing.

likesrudylikesbooty

VanessaNYC,

It is true, that other developed countries have working universal healthcare systems that we should refer to. But try to realize there are significant differences between our economies, and where the taxes come from to support them.

I'm not against the idea, and I'd be willing to pay more in taxes for it. I'm just trying to be realistic. Our current healthcare system is so burdened by bureaucracy, that any near term solution is unthinkable. Claims to reform our healthcare system for universal coverage sounds great as a campaign pitch, but there is obviously more to it than that.

VanessaNYC

um, that's:

"good stuff" not "food stuff"

"policies" and not "polocies"

etc, etc.

VanessaNYC

Purplerpdriquez,

"I just worry that the average Obama supporter has no idea why they're rooting for him. "

As an Obama supporter, I will respond to that.

First let me say that I don't dislike Senator Clinton and I plan to vote for her if she wins the nomination.

I will chose a Democratic candidate who favors a moderate balance between capitalism and a social democracy (and all that food stuff with which you are already familiar). I don't find Obama's polocies to be that different from Senator Clinton's, though he does differ from Senator Clinton in some other respects.

I prefer Obama for a number of reasons. These are just a few:

His record matches his rhetoric. He spoke out against the Iraq war (jeprodizing his career and his relationships with other politicians) and he provided specific reasons why he thought it would fail. His predictions came to pass. His stance remains the same now as it was then.

His support comes from everyday citizens, not large lobby groups. He speaks out against lobbying from special interest groups as he believes these donations come with strings attached. He wants to make his decisions based on what is best for the people, not because he is beholden to special interest groups.

I admit, like many others, I find his can-do-attitude inspiring.

Plenty of Obama supporters are pro-Clinton, they just believe that Obama will make a better president.

purplerodriguez

Elderta,

Obama did not use skill to get voters. Caucuses and demographics is the reason he has emerged with such victories. Caucuses are extremely undemocratic, and please don't get me started on the racial vote. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a huge supporter of grassroots movements. I just worry that the average Obama supporter has no idea why they're rooting for him. Sounds like dirty republican hoodwinkers are up to something.

Elderta

So, you're saying that I don't think that Democrats aren't corrupt? Thanks, but I never said that. Thank you for playing.

eyekantspel

oh, and another cute tidbit from your link, Elderta, "DeConcini [one of the Keating Five] was appointed by President Bill Clinton in February, 1995 to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation."

Obviously Bill Clinton didn't see the Keating Five thing as a big issue, so I doubt many people are going to care much about it now. A group of mostly Democratic senators sticking up for a friend sort of pales in comparison to Clinton's pardon of FALN, Marc Rich, Susan MacDougal (for refusing to testify about Whitewater), etc.

eyekantspel

John McCain also was part of the Keating Five. That's some's hero.

If this is in rebuttal to my point, I never called him a hero; and it is hardly surprising that in all that time in office you can find something to criticize.

Hillary refuses to release her tax records until after she is nominated (so I guess that's never), and let's not bother to look at all the things that she and Bill have been accused of.

Not that anyone cares about the Keating Five, it does shows McCain's bipartisan spirit, since the other 4 members were Democrats.

Elderta

John McCain also was part of the Keating Five. That's some's hero.

VanessaNYC

eyekantspel,

"My point was that depicting McCain as small and tired simply because he is older is itself small and tired. No doubt age can be a factor in memory and vitality for some, but there are a lot of older people who are as sharp as they come."

I completely agree with you.

eyekantspel

Warren Buffet endorses Obama. Just saying. I have no problem with Obama, and have posted his merits over Hillary as the Democratic nominee on several occassions.

My point was that depicting McCain as small and tired simply because he is older is itself small and tired. No doubt age can be a factor in memory and vitality for some, but there are a lot of older people who are as sharp as they come.

Elderta

Whoops... it's in yesterday's election thread.

Elderta

Toby, if Obama is just a brand, how has he been able to skillfully outmaneuver the powerhouse that is Hillary Clinton? I don't believe that you can chalk it all up to the media. He's even got McCain borrowing his tag lines now. What he's done takes skill my friend, believe it or not.

Babyhitler, I wrote a response to you regarding Obama, but I lost it in the Gothamist server. Sorry.

VanessaNYC

Dear likesrudylikesbooty,

Universal healthcare, like education, the police force, and fire fighters is a public service and is paid for through taxes. This system is much more economical that for-profit healthcare as it is a not-for-profit system (large corporations to not take billions of dollars of revenue at the expense of our health & well-being). The majority of the money spent goes to the people.

Most developed nations have a universal healthcare system. It's not impossible, it doesn't make countries broke and it benefits the people. These systems rank far better than the US system based on the World Health Organization's assessments.

If you'd like to do more research on this topic, here are some places to get started:

http://boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/08/11/frances_model_healthcare_system/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june04/uninsured_1-19.html

These are just a few. Google the subject.

Peace & good health to you.

:) Vanessa

likesrudylikesbooty

"Universal healthcare" sounds like a great idea, and the folks lap it up. But how do you propose to fund and maintain this?

purplerodriguez

VanessaNYC,

No, I do not support any republican, I support Hillary. I'm not sure what's on the mind of young voters but it seems to me that they vote for silly reasons. ObamaGirl didn't even vote!

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/obama-girl-didnt-vote/

bklyngrrl

I'm really, really excited about this. OBAMA is the bomb-a.

VanessaNYC

purplerodriguez,

"I bet most young voters have no idea what it's like not to have health insurance."

If they did know, do you think they'd vote for McCain? He, by no means, is in favor of universal healthcare.