With greater vocal support from those passionate about the “change” Obama promises, ‘yes we can’ was proven on Saturday when Obama swept Clinton at the caucuses in Nebraska, Louisiana and Washington State.
Although the Primary elections in these states have yet to take place, the Caucuses tell all, promising a huge advantage in the race for nomination.
While Clinton may still have a strong footing, her more traditional democratic support hurt her active support in the Caucuses, which call for supporters to actively attend and voice their vote. In Washington State’s Key Area, Obama spoke to an overflowing crowd of over 18,000 who didn’t care about comfortable seating or conventional dinner rallies. They just wanted a real life glimpse of the man they support as the future leader of this nation, and to hear the words of promise and new beginnings. Not reflecting a fair and accurate support rate, Clinton spoke in an empty venue holding less than 5,000.
Being an absentee voter myself, I could not participate in the Washington State Caucus. While I will be casting my vote, my support will be insignificant in a state that chooses delegates based solely from caucus support.
The results of the primary election will far from reflect the deep gorge between these two candidates at their caucuses, yet whether fair or not, the actual votes in this “democratic” system will mean nothing.
And although Obama’s victories were extremely strong, Clinton will still walk away with a sizable support of delegates. The Associated Press estimates that Obama won 69 delegates while Clinton won 40 over the weekend.
As the long hard battle for the finish line continues, neither of these candidates are showing any sign of predictable victory, leaving us to wonder…while Obama and his supporters have shown that ‘yes we can,’ the question is if we will.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Race, a major factor in the race
This Blog was written Jan 25, 2008 -- Sorry for the delay in posting
As Monday marked a historic tribute to one of the most influential black Americans and his battle for racial justice in the United States, another influential black American battles for the racial vote and the justice he calls for in the United States.
On the day of celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. the three leading Democratic candidates stood in unity and exchanged a few brief cordial words in Columbia, South Carolina before battling to reveal the truth of their voice in the Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and ultimately win the South Carolina primary election on Saturday Jan. 26.
Democratic officials estimate that African-American voters could comprise more than 60 percent of the primary voters in South Carolina. With African-American candidate Barrack Obama up against South Carolina native John Edwards, race will be a major factor in this race especially.
Barack Obama, who if elected would be the first African-American President of the United States, lead a march through the few city blocks leading to the state capitol where he was joined by Hilary Clinton and Edwards to make brief remarks on the impact of MLK and his battle for civil rights even today.
“Everyday, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions, across gender and party,” Obama said. “So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others—all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face—war and poverty; injustice and inequality…It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.”
Yet encouraging words of tribute faded quickly into bitter attacks during the debate, especially between the would be first woman and the would be first African-American president. The South Carolina Primary will be essential as the race continues to be a close one. So far in the democratic contest, Clinton has won the New Hampshire, Nevada and Michigan primaries. Obama has won Iowa and taken second to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada, while Edwards finished second in Iowa but has not won any state primary elections.
As Monday marked a historic tribute to one of the most influential black Americans and his battle for racial justice in the United States, another influential black American battles for the racial vote and the justice he calls for in the United States.
On the day of celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. the three leading Democratic candidates stood in unity and exchanged a few brief cordial words in Columbia, South Carolina before battling to reveal the truth of their voice in the Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and ultimately win the South Carolina primary election on Saturday Jan. 26.
Democratic officials estimate that African-American voters could comprise more than 60 percent of the primary voters in South Carolina. With African-American candidate Barrack Obama up against South Carolina native John Edwards, race will be a major factor in this race especially.
Barack Obama, who if elected would be the first African-American President of the United States, lead a march through the few city blocks leading to the state capitol where he was joined by Hilary Clinton and Edwards to make brief remarks on the impact of MLK and his battle for civil rights even today.
“Everyday, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions, across gender and party,” Obama said. “So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others—all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face—war and poverty; injustice and inequality…It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.”
Yet encouraging words of tribute faded quickly into bitter attacks during the debate, especially between the would be first woman and the would be first African-American president. The South Carolina Primary will be essential as the race continues to be a close one. So far in the democratic contest, Clinton has won the New Hampshire, Nevada and Michigan primaries. Obama has won Iowa and taken second to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada, while Edwards finished second in Iowa but has not won any state primary elections.
Running the 2008 Presidential Election Race
This Blog was written Jan 18, 2008 -- Sorry for the delay in posting
The gun has been fired, the candidates are off, as three front running democrats and six republicans battle for their respective parties nomination and one step closer to victory. Initial leading democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and republican candidate John McCain took back the lead with victories in the New Hampshire Primaries last Tuesday, Jan 8. Both candidates were strongly silenced in the Iowa Caucasus, Clinton taking third to democratic winner Barack Obama and McCain taking sixth to republican winner Mike Huckabee. Both candidates were favored as likely party nominations from early election polls are now being called the “come back kids” after a rocky start. Then, Jan. 5 gave republican Mitt Romney a powerful step as he closed in on the lead with a victory in the Wyoming Primary election for Republicans only.
Major political changes are the promise of every candidate. With heated opposition across party lines and within them, the success of the unconventional “religious republican” Huckabee and the politically “young” Obama in Iowa was greatly attributed to an increase in youth involvement calling for change. With no assumed leaders, the race will be close and every vote will count. Feb. 5 marks the California primary election. The most important thing you can do is register to vote and be a part of the youth taking a voice in this election season.
Iowa Caucasus Results (top three candidates):
Democrats: Republicans:
Obama 38% Huckabee 34%
Edwards 30% Romney 25%
Clinton 29% Thompson 13%
New Hampshire Primary Results (top three candidates):
Democrats: Republicans:
Clinton 39% McCain 37%
Obama 36% Romney 32%
Edwards 17% Huckabee 11%
Wyoming Republican Primary Results (top three candidates):
Republican:
Romney 67%
Thompson 25%
Hunter 8%
The gun has been fired, the candidates are off, as three front running democrats and six republicans battle for their respective parties nomination and one step closer to victory. Initial leading democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and republican candidate John McCain took back the lead with victories in the New Hampshire Primaries last Tuesday, Jan 8. Both candidates were strongly silenced in the Iowa Caucasus, Clinton taking third to democratic winner Barack Obama and McCain taking sixth to republican winner Mike Huckabee. Both candidates were favored as likely party nominations from early election polls are now being called the “come back kids” after a rocky start. Then, Jan. 5 gave republican Mitt Romney a powerful step as he closed in on the lead with a victory in the Wyoming Primary election for Republicans only.
Major political changes are the promise of every candidate. With heated opposition across party lines and within them, the success of the unconventional “religious republican” Huckabee and the politically “young” Obama in Iowa was greatly attributed to an increase in youth involvement calling for change. With no assumed leaders, the race will be close and every vote will count. Feb. 5 marks the California primary election. The most important thing you can do is register to vote and be a part of the youth taking a voice in this election season.
Iowa Caucasus Results (top three candidates):
Democrats: Republicans:
Obama 38% Huckabee 34%
Edwards 30% Romney 25%
Clinton 29% Thompson 13%
New Hampshire Primary Results (top three candidates):
Democrats: Republicans:
Clinton 39% McCain 37%
Obama 36% Romney 32%
Edwards 17% Huckabee 11%
Wyoming Republican Primary Results (top three candidates):
Republican:
Romney 67%
Thompson 25%
Hunter 8%
Primary Election Schedule
Following the coarse of eight democrats, 11 republicans and 29 candidates of four other independent parties as they sprint for the finish line and proclaim victory as 44th President of the United States.
Febuary:
1-Maine (R)
5-Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, N Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
9-Lousiana, Kansas (R)
10-Maine (D)
12-DC, Maryland, Virgina
19-Hawaii (D), Washington State, Wisconsin
March:
4-Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
8-Wyoming (D)
11-Mississippi
April:
22-Pennsylvania
May:
6-Indiana, N Carolina
13-Nebraska, W Virgina
20-Kentucky, Oregon
27-Isaho (R)
June:
3-Montana, New Mexico ®, S Dakota
August:
25-29: Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado
September:
1-4: Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
**Source: National Association for Secretary of States**
Febuary:
1-Maine (R)
5-Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, N Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
9-Lousiana, Kansas (R)
10-Maine (D)
12-DC, Maryland, Virgina
19-Hawaii (D), Washington State, Wisconsin
March:
4-Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
8-Wyoming (D)
11-Mississippi
April:
22-Pennsylvania
May:
6-Indiana, N Carolina
13-Nebraska, W Virgina
20-Kentucky, Oregon
27-Isaho (R)
June:
3-Montana, New Mexico ®, S Dakota
August:
25-29: Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado
September:
1-4: Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
**Source: National Association for Secretary of States**
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)