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Big decisions await president-elect
President-elect Obama likened himself to a mutt today in discussing the search for a new presidential puppy. His first media address turned off topic for a few minutes today, as Obama answered a question about the White House dog search.
“With respect to the dog, this is a major issue. I think it’s generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything.
“We have — we have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic.
“On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So — so whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household.”
The family as of Friday morning was leaning Goldendoodle.
The press conference also touched on economic issues.
The complete doggy dialogue follows:
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Obama claims symbolic N.C. victory
President-elect Obama has won North Carolina, a symbolic triumph in a state that hadn’t voted for a Democrat in more than a generation.
The Associated Press declared Obama the winner Thursday after canvassing counties in North Carolina to determine the number of outstanding provisional ballots.
That survey found that there are not enough remaining ballots for Republican John McCain to close a 13,693-vote deficit.
North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes brings Obama’s total to 364 — nearly 100 more than necessary to win the White House. Missouri is the only state that remains too close to call.
Obama’s win in North Carolina was the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter won the state in 1976.
from the Associated Press
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Obama picks Emanual as chief of staff
President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday named U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to be his White House chief of staff.
Emanuel was a political and policy aide to President Bill Clinton during the 1990s. He ran for and won a Chicago-area U.S. House seat six years ago and quickly moved into a leadership role in the Democratic caucus. As chairman of the Democratic campaign committee in 2006, he played a key role in the party retaking the House after 12 years in the minority.
Obama also selected former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta to head his transition team.
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Nash results shift after recount
Thanks to a computer malfunction, more than 5,500 Nash County ballots were not included in the initial results last night. The ballots, which were cast during early voting, went heavily for Democrat Barack Obama. As a result Republican John McCain narrowly defeated Obama by 600 votes in the traditionally conservative county.
The extra ballots pushed turnout to about 73 percent, a new record Elections Director John Kearney said.
With the recount, Republican Bill Daughtridge lost his native county by 3 percentage points in his race for N.C. treasurer against Janet Cowell.
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McCrory concedes to Perdue
Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory conceded his race for governor to Democrat Beverly Perdue just before 11 p.m. in Charlotte.
McCrory - the mayor of Charlotte - conceded the election unexpectedly after being down an estimated 100,000 votes behind Perdue, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.
According to the unofficial results, Perdue garnered 49 percent of the vote with more than 1.9 million votes. McCrory received more than 1.8 million votes.
Perdue will become the first woman in North Carolina’s history to be elected the state’s governor.
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Race tight in N.C., McCain pulls slightly ahead
It doesn’t appear as if Barack Obama will need North Carolina to win the presidency, but John McCain is leading by a few thousand votes. The race is still too close to call in the Tar Heel State.
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Obama leads in Edgecombe County
Barack Obama continues to do well as Edgecombe County results trickle in. With 11 precincts reporting, Barack Obama is polling at 69 percent over John McCain in the rural county.
N.C. Rep. Joe Tolson leads Republican challenger Garland Shepheard with 73 percent of the vote, thus far.
Bev Perdue is pulling 74 percent of the vote over McCrory.
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McCain wins Nash County
With 41,000 ballots cast in Nash County, John McCain won the county with 53 percent of the vote.
Democrat Bev Perdue won Nash County with about 52 percent of the vote.
Edgecombe County has yet to report a single result.
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Etheridge besting Mansell
U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-2nd District, is leading Republican opponent Dan Mansell by more than 28,000 votes.
Etheridge, a six-term congressman, is ahead of Mansell by more than 28, 722 votes unofficially, according to the N.C State Board of Elections.
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Kay Hagan defeats powerhouse Dole
Based on preliminary election results, TV stations across the state have declared Democrat Kay Hagan will defeat incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole. Hagan is leading by more than 10 points with 20 percent of precincts reporting.
One year ago, Dole was regarded unbeatable by most political pundits.
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Stewart defeats Bullock in N.C. House District 25 race
Democrat Randy Stewart has defeated Republican W.B. Bullock in the N.C. House District 25 race. According to the Nash County Board of Elections, Stewart garnered 54 percent of the vote to Bullock’s 46 percent in the race to succeed outgoing N.C. Rep. Bill Daughtridge.
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Daughtridge trails in treasurer’s race
N.C. Rep. Bill Daughtridge, R-Nash, is trailing his Democratic opponent Janet Cowell in early returns.
With about 1.8 million ballots counted so far across the state, Cowell leads with 973,30 votes - or 55 percent - to Daughtridge’s 778, 542 votes - or 44 percent - in the race for N.C. State Treasurer.
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Nash County neck and neck for president
With 22 of 26 precincts reporting, Obama is leading McCain in Nash County 50 percent to 49 percent.
More than 70,000 ballots have already been counted, a new record officials said.
- Kay Hagan leads Dole in Nash County 53 percent to 44 percent.
- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue is pulling 56 percent of the vote.
- Janet Cowell leads native son Republican Bill Daughtridge for treasurer in Nash County.
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Initial results give Obama, Dems, early lead in N.C.
Initial reports from the state board of elections give Democrat Barack Obama the early edge. With 998,861 ballots counted, Obama leads McCain 57 percent to 42 percent.
Early statistics give Democrat Kay Hagan the advantage over Republican U.S. Elizabeth Dole and Democrat Bev Perdue the lead over Republican Pat McCrory for governor.
Check back frequently for updates as the results come in.
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Jones leading Weber
Early unofficial election results for the U.S. House District 2 race are showing U.S. Rep. Walter Jones leading the race by more than 11,000 votes.
With 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties reporting, Jones - the Republican incumbent - is leading Democratic challenger Craig Weber by 11,112 votes, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.
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What to Watch: An Election Night Viewer’s Guide
As the first polls begin to close at 7 p.m. on the East Coast, we could see some early indications of where the presidential race is heading. A handful of states could well tell us early on whether Barack Obama or John McCain is in for a good night - or whether it will be another late-night nail-biter.
Virginia: Polls close in this state at 7 p.m. Obama has been leading in the opinion surveys, and if he wins this formerly red state, it could be a long night for McCain. Should McCain eke out a victory here, it could signal that a series of flawed polling had erroneously cast Obama as the frontrunner and the race will be much tighter than most analysts have predicted.
Indiana: Polls also close at 7 p.m. here, where McCain has held a slight edge in polling with Obama closing slightly in the final days. If McCain loses here, it’s a pretty good bet that Obama will be the next president. But don’t count McCain out here.
North Carolina: Polls close at 7:30 p.m. The two candidates were in a statistical dead heat in the final opinion polls here, with turnout of young and minority voters key for an Obama victory. The last Democrat to win the Tar Heel State was Jimmy Carter in 1976, so an Obama victory could likely be a bellweather for the rest of the night. If McCain loses North Carolina and either Virginia or Indiana, he will have to win Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania to keep his hopes alive.
Ohio: Polls close at 7:30 p.m. No Republican has won the presidency without carrying Ohio, and this year is no different. If Obama wins Ohio and any two of the three states above, it will likely signal a landslide in the making. A must-win for McCain, given Obama’s strong polling in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa and New Hampshire - which all went for George W. Bush in 2004.
Missouri: Polls close at 8 p.m. Opinion surveys have also been tight here, but the Show-Me State is definitely leaning McCain. Missouri has voted for the winner of every presidential election since 1904 with the exception of 1956. Obama doesn’t need it - but like the other red states won by Bush in 2004 where Obama is close or ahead in the pre-election polls, it’s a must-win for McCain.
Pennsylvania: Polls also close at 8 p.m. here. McCain has targeted this state heavily, with many pundits calling his wooing of conservative, rural voters in the western part of the state a “hail-mary strategy.” Opinion surveys have put Obama anywhere from 6 to 12 points ahead here, and his strength in Philadelphia and its suburbs will be hard for McCain to overcome.
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G.K. Butterfield preparing for ‘history’
U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, 61, has personally experienced much of the advancements made by the black community the last 50 years. His father, a small town dentist, was one of the first blacks to win an election in the 20th century when he was elected in 1953 to serve on the Wilson City Council. And Butterfield was there 45 years ago when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech.
An impressionable 16-year-old then, Butterfield said he never thought he would see a minority leader rise to the presidency. Butterfield has led the charge to win North Carolina for the Democrat.
“I’ve lived a long time and have worked hard for fairness and equality,” said Butterfield, who has his own race to worry about today. “I did not believe I would see the day. Certainly not. It’s going to be an emotional night, either way.”
Read the Telegram tomorrow for Butterfield’s reaction to the results.
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Voting advocate: High Election Day participation improves society
The executive director of Democracy North Carolina, a Raleigh-based voting rights advocacy group, says today’s high voter turnout could lead to marked social and economic improvements throughout the state.
Bob Hall has for years studied the impacts of voting on democracy. His research indicates that states with traditionally higher voter turnout have smaller economic gaps between rich and poor; public education is more effective; and individual quality of life is better.
“It’s not that the sates that have high turnout are the richest,” Hall said, “but the gaps between rich and poor are not as large as states with low turnout. And it makes sense. If more people actively participate, politicians and leaders must be responsive to more segments of population.”
Hall said he hopes North Carolina shatters voter participation records today. If more people voted consistently, he said, the state would become a better place to live — regardless of who wins.
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Obama scores wins in early votes
Two small towns in New Hampshire gave early wins to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Voters in Dixville Notch and Hart’s Location, N.H., which traditionally open their polls just after midnight on Election Day, overwhelmingly supported the Democratic candidate over his GOP rival, John McCain.
Obama defeated McCain by a tally of 15 to 6 in Dixville Notch and 17 to 10 in Hart’s Location, where two voters cast write-in ballots for Ron Paul.
Hart’s location began the early-voting tradition in 1948 to accomodate railroad workers who had to be into work early. Dixville Notch followed suit in 1960. Hart’s Location suspended the practice in 1964, only to reinstitute it beginning in 1996.
Obama becomes the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Dixville Notch since Hubert Humphrey in 1968.
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McCain, Obama in dead heat in N.C.
The latest polls report North Carolina to be way too close to call in the presidential contest between Barack Obama and John McCain.
A Rasmussen Reports poll of 1,000 likely voters conducted Sunday reports McCain leading 50 percent to 49 percent. A survey by the Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling of 2,100 likely voters conducted Friday through Sunday gives Obama a 50 percent to 49 percent advantage. A Reuters-Zogby poll of 600 likely voters conducted Thursday through Sunday puts McCain on top by a margin of 49 percent to 48 percent.
So what’s going to determine the outcome of Tuesday’s election? Will North Carolina vote for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since Jimmy Carter won the state in 1976?
It all comes down to one thing: Turnout.
Unprecedented numbers of young and black voters have swelled voter registration rolls across the state. If those folks turn out in droves - as they are expected to do - Obama might just pull out a victory in the Tar Heel State. And while rain is forecast for almost all of the state on Election Day - which historically lowers turnout, tending to favor Republican candidates - one other thing to keep in mind is that polling firms do not call cell phone numbers. These surveys are all conducted exclusively on land lines.
How many people under 30 do you know that don’t use a cell phone?
The state’s gubernatorial contest also appears to be in a dead heat, with Democrat Bev Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory running neck and neck heading into Tuesday’s election.
Last weekend’s Public Policy Polling survey reported Perdue to be leading McCrory by a thin margin of 49 percent to 48 percent, while an AP/GfK poll of 601 likely voters conducted Oct. 22 to 26 puts both candidates at 44 percent.
From the outset, this race was viewed as Perdue’s to lose - and she may well be on her way to doing just that. Her scattershot attacks on McCrory and lukewarm performance in the televised debates have added up to produce a fairly lackluster campaign. And if folks in North Carolina really do want change this year, it’s hard to think of a bigger one than putting a Republican in the Governor’s Mansion.
In North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, Democrat Kay Hagan continues to lead U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in public opinion surveys. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of 700 likely voters conducted Wednesday reports Hagan to be leading the first-term GOP senator by a margin of 52 percent to 46 percent - the fourth straight Rasmussen Reports survey to show Hagan in the lead. Last weekend’s Public Policy Polling survey puts Hagan’s lead at 51 percent to 44 percent.
A year ago the Democrats couldn’t find anyone to challenge Dole. After declining solicitations to run, Hagan - a powerful state senator who co-chairs the N.C. Senate Appropriations Committee - finally gave in to repeated requests to throw her hat in the ring.
And now, she might just be on her way to Washington, D.C.
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Rocky Mount hip hop video for change
A Rocky Mount educator who identified herself as Lady J wrote a tribute song to get out the vote for Barack Obama. She helped produce the following video to accompany the song:
Latest comments
“Driver Protection Law”???? maybe that one is covered by the Drunk Driving Laws?… not so much covering the person who is driving while ‘impaired’… but as a means to protect the innocent drivers who might get harmed in
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“Driver Protection Law”???? maybe that one is covered by the Drunk Driving Laws?… not so much covering the person who is driving while ‘impaired’… but as a means to protect the innocent drivers who might get harmed in
... read the full comment by ken | Comment on Big decisions await president-elect Read Big decisions await president-elect
a dog for the WHITE HOUSE? Schnauzers and Shih Tsu are great breeds—family friendly and on the small side.
back to last weeks election and this week’s news:
wow! talk about fast action and at the grassroots level. Obama was
... read the full comment by ken | Comment on Big decisions await president-elect Read Big decisions await president-elect
suggest this isn’t the first time Nash County voting machines have ‘malfunctioned’—those in the know will know. just glad this one got caught and correctly reported.
hope the ‘malfunction’ is corrected or fired,
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